: muscle governing reflex functions and not under direct voluntary control
especially: smooth muscle
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the WebThe first and mildest stage is heat cramps, which are characterized by involuntary muscle spasms. Joanna Thompson, Scientific American, 11 Aug. 2022 Tremors—involuntary muscle contractions—were found to show up as many as 10 years before a Parkinson's diagnosis, becoming more frequent in the two years leading up to one. Jocelyn Solis-moreira, Health.com, 1 Apr. 2022 Muscle spasms, or sudden involuntary muscle contractions, are pretty common. Carolyn L. Todd, SELF, 20 Oct. 2021 The neurological symptoms can be things such as a shaking head, an inability to stand, involuntary muscle spasms in general. Maddie Bender, Scientific American, 13 Aug. 2021 Nine months before the pandemic hit, Amber nearly died from a series of involuntary muscle contractions. Chris Serres, Star Tribune, 5 Mar. 2021 The former nurse suffers from a condition called dystonia, which causes involuntary muscle jerks.al, 15 Nov. 2020 Other side effects include depression, anxiety, skin rash, headache, dizziness, nausea, involuntary muscle twitches, and potentially fatal heart issues. Camela Thompson, STAT, 20 May 2020 Some shootings occurred because of involuntary muscle reflexes, experts said, or because the officer simply tripped.Washington Post, 9 Dec. 2019 See More
Word History
First Known Use
1840, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
involuntary muscle
noun
: muscle governing reflex functions and not under direct voluntary control