myoclonus
Sudden involuntary spasm
Myoclonus is a sudden, involuntary muscle jerk or twitch—a brief, shock-like contraction.
The hiccup is a form of myoclonus, as are the jerks that sometimes occur when falling asleep.
Myoclonus can be harmless or a symptom of neurological conditions like epilepsy: The patient experienced myoclonus in her arms and legs.
Abrupt pulling motion
- twitchInvoluntary muscular jerk
- spasmInvoluntary muscle contraction
- contractionReduction in size
- convulsionSudden involuntary muscle contractions
tremor · shudder · quiver · startle · flinch · reflex · uncontrolled · sudden
Movement disorder causing postures
- choreaInvoluntary jerking muscle disorder
- tremorInvoluntary rhythmic shaking
- ataxiaImpaired voluntary movement control
- ticInvoluntary repetitive movement
Parkinsonism · rigidity · bradykinesia · hyperkinetic · dyskinesia · stereotypy
Involuntary twitch at sleep onset
- sleep startTwitch upon dozing off
- falling sensationPerception of rapid descent
- drowsinessState of near-sleep
- nocturnalActive during darkness
restless legs · arousal · NREM · benign · physiological
Brain disorder causing seizures
- seizureForcible taking or convulsion
- encephalopathyDisease impairing brain function
- electroencephalogramBrain wave recording
- corticalOf an outer layer
subcortical · brainstem · spinal · neurotransmitter · serotonin · GABA · neurodegenerative · anoxia
Identification of illness
- EEGNeural activity recording
- EMGMuscle electrical activity test
- electrophysiologyBiology's electrical activity science
- treatmentCare for an ailment
clonazepam · valproate · prognosis · benign · progressive · symptomatic · essential · palatal
jerk
Abrupt pulling motion
- twitchInvoluntary muscular jerk
- spasmInvoluntary muscle contraction
- contractionReduction in size
convulsion · tremor · shudder · quiver · startle · flinch · reflex · uncontrolled · sudden · spontaneous
dystonia
Movement disorder causing postures
- choreaInvoluntary jerking muscle disorder
- tremorInvoluntary rhythmic shaking
- ataxiaImpaired voluntary movement control
tic · Parkinsonism · rigidity · bradykinesia · hyperkinetic · dyskinesia · stereotypy
hypnic jerk
Involuntary twitch at sleep onset
- sleep startTwitch upon dozing off
- falling sensationPerception of rapid descent
- drowsinessState of near-sleep
nocturnal · restless legs · arousal · NREM · benign · physiological
epilepsy
Brain disorder causing seizures
- seizureForcible taking or convulsion
- encephalopathyDisease impairing brain function
- electroencephalogramBrain wave recording
cortical · subcortical · brainstem · spinal · neurotransmitter · serotonin · GABA · neurodegenerative · anoxia · metabolic
diagnosis
Identification of illness
- EEGNeural activity recording
- EMGMuscle electrical activity test
- electrophysiologyBiology's electrical activity science
treatment · clonazepam · valproate · prognosis · benign · progressive · symptomatic · essential · palatal · diaphragmatic
myoclonusparalysis
Loss of muscle function
flaccidity · paresis · hypotonia · muscle relaxation · plegia