1. Muscle Disorders
And
Clinical Terms

2. Muscle Disorders and Clinical Terms
Myopathy – disease of muscles in which fibers do not function resulting in muscular weakness.
Myalgia – muscular pain
Myositis – Inflammation of muscular tissue
Fibrositis – inflammation of connective tissue within a muscle
Fibromyositis – inflammation of muscles and connective tissue

3. Muscle Disorders and Clinical Terms
Contracture – permanent shortening of a muscle or joint
Cramps – temporary, involuntary strong muscle contraction or overstretching which may cause severe pain.
Muscular dystrophy – group of inherited disorders involving muscle weakness and loss of muscle tissue which gets worse over time.
Myasthenia gravis – autoimmune disease in which skeletal muscle easily fatigues.

4. Muscle Disorders and Clinical Terms
Tenosynovitis – inflammation of tendons, sheaths
and synovial membrane of joints
Gangrene – death of soft tissue, that results from
interruption of its blood supply
Ischemia – restriction of blood supply to tissues causing a shortage of oxygen and glucose needed for metabolism.

5. Muscle Disorders and Clinical Terms
Convulsions – strong involuntary contractions of entire muscle groups
Spasm – an involuntary twitch, brief period of
complete tetanus; chemical imbalance
Pulled groin – strain affecting adductor muscles
Muscle cramp – sudden, involuntary and painful muscle contractions

6. Muscle Disorders and Clinical Terms
Strain – stretch or tear in muscles or tendons as a result of overstretching
Sprain – stretch or tear in ligaments caused by overstretching
Trichinosis – parasitic disease caused by eating undercooked pork, muscles are invaded by parasitic worms.
Tetanus – prolonged, involuntary contractions of skeletal muscle caused by toxins released by bacteria

7. Muscle Disorders and Clinical Terms
Hyperkalemia – high extracellular K+ concentration reducing the difference between the K+ concentrations outside and inside the cell; causing paralysis of muscles
Fibrosis – increasing amounts of fibrous tissue
Botulism – toxin from Clostridium botulinum – prevents release of acetylcholine causing paralysis.
Shin splints – inflammation of the dorsiflexor muscles over the anterior of the lower leg

8. Muscle Disorders and Clinical Terms
Charley horse – muscle spasm in which muscles contract without conscious control and does not relax; often in the leg
Tennis elbow – inflammation at the origin of the extensor carpi muscles (outer part of elbow)
Atrophy – degeneration of muscle
Hypertrophy – increase in size of muscle
Paralysis – cessation of muscle contraction

9. Muscle Disorders and Clinical Terms
Curare – arrowhead poison; binds to acetylcholine receptors and block attachment causing weakness of skeletal muscle
Calcium channel blockers – drugs that block transfer of Ca2+; inhibits muscle contraction; used to enhance blood flow through the heart by relaxing the wall of cardiac vessels (dilation)
Volkmann’s contracture – permanent shortening of muscles of the forearm causing permanent contraction of the hand at the wrist

10. Muscle Disorders and Clinical Terms
Tic – spasmodic twitching made involuntarily by muscles that are voluntary
Tremor – rhythmic, involuntary, purposeless contraction that produces shaking
Fasciculation – involuntary, brief twitch of an entire motor unit that is visible under the skin
Hypertonia – increased muscle tone, either rigidity or spasticity
Hypotonia – decreased or lost muscle tone due to damage to motor neurons
Myomalacia – softening of a muscle