Medical term:
tetany
tetany
[tet´ah-ne]1. continuous tonic spasm of a muscle; steady contraction of a muscle without distinct twitching.
2. a syndrome manifested by sharp flexion of the wrist and ankle joints (carpopedal spasm), muscle twitchings, cramps, and convulsions, sometimes with attacks of stridor. It is due to abnormal calcium metabolism, and occurs with hypofunction of the parathyroid glands, vitamin D deficiency, and alkalosis, and also as a result of ingestion of alkaline salts. Treatment varies according to the cause and is usually successful. It may include the administration of vitamin D, calcium, parathyroid hormone, or other remedies. In chronic cases, as in the loss of the parathyroid glands, treatment may have to be continued indefinitely.
duration tetany a continuous tetanic contraction in response to a strong continuous current, occurring especially in degenerated muscles.
gastric tetany a severe form due to disease of the stomach, attended by difficult respiration and painful tonic spasms of the limbs.
hyperventilation tetany tetany produced by forced inhalation and exhalation continued for a considerable time.
latent tetany tetany elicited by the application of electrical and mechanical stimulation.
parathyroid tetany (parathyroprival tetany) tetany due to removal or hypofunctioning of the parathyroid glands.
Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. © 2003 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.
tet·a·ny
(tet'ă-nē), Do not confuse this word with tetanus.A clinical neurologic syndrome characterized by muscle twitches, cramps, and carpopedal spasm, and when severe, laryngospasm and seizures; these findings reflect irritability of the central and peripheral nervous systems, usually resulting from low serum levels of ionized calcium or, less commonly, magnesium. Causes include hyperventilation, hypoparathyroidism, rickets, and uremia.
[G. tetanos, tetanus]
Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
tetany
(tĕt′n-ē)n. pl. teta·nies
An abnormal condition characterized by periodic painful muscular spasms and tremors, caused by faulty calcium metabolism and associated with diminished function of the parathyroid glands.
The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2007, 2004 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
tetany
Neurology Neuromuscular hyperexcitability evoked by an extreme drop in extracellular calcium Etiology Alkalosis, parathyroid hypofunction, vitamin D deficiency Clinical Carpal, laryngeal, pedal spasms, cramping, stridor, hyperreflexia, choreiform movement. Cf Tetanus.McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
tet·a·ny
(tet'ă-nē)A clinical neurologic syndrome characterized by muscle twitches, cramps, and carpopedal spasm, and when severe, laryngospasm and seizures; these findings reflect irritability of the central and peripheral nervous systems, usually resulting from low serum levels of ionized calcium or, rarely, magnesium. Causes include hyperventilation, hypoparathyroidism, rickets, and uremia.
Synonym(s): intermittent cramp (1) , intermittent tetanus.
Synonym(s): intermittent cramp (1) , intermittent tetanus.
[G. tetanos, tetanus]
Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing © Farlex 2012
tetany
Muscle spasm resulting from abnormally low levels of blood calcium. Low extracellular calcium on excitable cell membranes opens sodium channels leading to increased excitability. The drop in serum calcium can result from a reduction in blood acidity from deliberate or hysterical over-breathing (hyperventilation) or from underaction of the PARATHYROID GLANDS. Tetany affects mainly the hands and feet, causing a claw-like effect with extension of the nearer joints and bending of the outer joints (carpopedal spasm). Compare TETANUS.Collins Dictionary of Medicine © Robert M. Youngson 2004, 2005
tetany
an abnormal increase in nerve and muscle excitability resulting in spasms of the arms and legs, caused by a deficiency of PARATHYROID secretion.Collins Dictionary of Biology, 3rd ed. © W. G. Hale, V. A. Saunders, J. P. Margham 2005
Tetany
A disorder of the nervous system characterized by muscle cramps, spasms of the arms and legs, and numbness of the extremities.
Mentioned in: Electrolyte Disorders
Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
tet·a·ny
(tet'ă-nē)Clinical neurologic syndrome characterized by muscle twitches, cramps, and carpopedal spasm, and when severe, laryngospasm and seizures. Causes include hyperventilation, hypoparathyroidism, rickets, and uremia.
[G. tetanos, tetanus]
Medical Dictionary for the Dental Professions © Farlex 2012
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