Medical terms - Letter M (page 22) | MedicalVocabulary.org

Myoclonic seizure

A seizure characterized by jerking (myoclonic) movements of a muscle or muscle group, without loss of consciousness
Myoclonic twitch

A rapid, involuntary muscle contraction, particularly near the eye. Myoclonic tics resemble, and may be mistaken for, tics. Like tics, they tend to occur more often when the person is under stress; unlike tics, they are…
Myoclonus

A condition of abnormal contraction of muscles or portions of muscles.
Myocyte

A muscle cell. From myo-, muscle + -cyte, cell = muscle cell. 'Remaining young at heart is a desirable but elusive goal. Unbeknown to us, however, myocyte regeneration may accomplish just that.' (Nature 415, 240, 2003)
Myocyte, cardiac

See: Cardiac myocyte
Myofascial pain syndrome

A condition characterized by chronic pain in the muscle tissues, similar to fibromyalgia. MPS is sometimes the aftermath of injury. Pain medication, anti-inflammatory medication, and therapies aimed at relaxing the…
Myoglobin

The pigment in muscle that carries oxygen.
Myokymia

Continuous involuntary muscle twitchings that give the appearance of wormlike rippling of muscle. The muscle contractions are involuntary (spontaneous) and brief. Myokymia can occur in many situations, including cancer…
Myoma

A benign tumor of smooth muscle in the wall of the uterus. A myoma of the uterus is commonly called a fibroid. Uterine fibroids are the single most common indication for hysterectomy. Fibroids can be present and be…
Myomectomy

Surgery to remove a fibroid from the uterus. A fibroid, or leiomyoma, is a benign tumor that arises from the myometrium, the muscular wall of the uterus. The first myomectomy was performed by the American surgeon…
Myometrium

The muscular outer layer of the uterus.
Myopathy

Any and all disease of muscle. Or any type of damage to muscle. There are many different kinds of myopathies. The most common form of muscular dystrophy, for example, is an inherited myopathy; it is due to mutation of a…
Myopathy, mitochondrial

Nearsightedness, the ability to see close objects more clearly than distant objects. Myopia can be caused by a longer-than-normal eyeball or by any condition that prevents light rays from focusing on the retina. Most…
Myopia

Myopia: Nearsightedness, the ability to see close objects more clearly than distant objects. Myopia can be caused by a longer-than-normal eyeball or by any condition that prevents light rays from focusing on the retina…
Myositis

Inflammation of muscle tissue. There are many causes of myositis, including injury, medications, and diseases
Myostatin

A growth factor that regulates the size of muscles beginning in early embryonic development and continuing throughout life. Myostatin acts by inhibiting the growth of muscles, It prevents them from growing too large…
Myotonic dystrophy

An inherited disease in which the muscles contract but have decreasing power to relax -- this phenomenon is termed myotonia (irritability and prolonged contraction of muscles). The disease also leads to a mask-like…
Myotonic dystrophy 2

See: Myotonic dystrophy type 2
Myotonic dystrophy type 2

An inherited disorder of the muscles and other body systems characterized by progressive muscle weakness, prolonged muscle contractions (myotonia), clouding of the lens of the eye (cataracts), cardiac abnormalities…
Myotonic myopathy, proximal

See: Myotonic dystrophy type 2
Myriad

A great number, a very large number, a huge number of something. There are, for example, myriad ways in which syphilis can present; it is the great imitator. 'Myriad' is a Greek word for 10,000 (ten thousand).
Myringotomy

A surgically placed tiny incision in the eardrum. Any fluid behind the eardrum can then drain and usually thickened secretions can be removed. A small plastic ear tube (a tympanostomy tube) is often inserted into the…
Myxedema, infantile

Hypothyroidism (subnormal activity of the thyroid gland) that starts after birth and is manifest by features including delays in growth and development and myxedema surfacing during infancy. Myxedema is a dry waxy type…
Myxoma

A benign tumor composed of primitive connective tissue. The plural is myxomas or myxomata
Myxomata

The plural (along with myxomas) of myxoma