myoclonusn.
/ˌmʌɪə(ʊ)ˈkləʊnəs/, U.S. /ˌmaɪoʊˈkloʊnəs/ Medicine.
Involuntary, jerky contraction of one or more muscles, occurring singly or in a series, usually associated with disease of the central nervous system.
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the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > diseases of tissue > disorders affecting muscles > [noun] > spasm or cramp > series
clonus1822
paramyoclonus1882
myoclonus1883
myoclonia1899
1883 G. Peckham in Arch. Med. 9 97 (title) Rhythmical myoclonus.
1893 W. R. Gowers Man. Dis. Nerv. Syst. (ed. 2) II. 629 Myoclonus has not the grave character of the latter [sc. Italian electrical chorea].
1903 Jrnl. Nerv. & Mental Dis. 30 365 In his opinion, the distinguishing feature of myoclonus of the Friedreich type was the occurrence of contractions of individual muscles not under the control of the will.
1953 R. W. Fairbrother Text-bk. Bacteriol. (ed. 7) xxxii. 422 There may also be delirium, convulsions, myoclonus, choreiform movements and hiccup.
1995 A. J. Holt Watch Me 219 In children, unrestricted myoclonus is called West's Syndrome.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1883