tetany

tet·a·ny

T0128900 (tĕt′n-ē)n. pl. tet·a·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.

[From tetanus.]

tetany

(ˈtɛtənɪ) n (Pathology) pathol an abnormal increase in the excitability of nerves and muscles resulting in spasms of the arms and legs, caused by a deficiency of parathyroid secretion[C19: from French tétanie. See tetanus]

tet•a•ny

(ˈtɛt n i)

n. a state marked by severe, intermittent tonic contractions and muscular pain, due to abnormal calcium metabolism. [1880–85; < New Latin tetania. See tetanus, -y³]

tetany

Muscle twitches, spasms, and convulsions resulting from a lack of calcium in the blood. It may be caused by a dysfunction in the parathyroid glands (hypoparathyroidism).

Thesaurus

Noun

tetany - clinical neurological syndrome characterized by muscular twitching and cramps and (when severe) seizures; associated with calcium deficiency (hypoparathyroidism) or vitamin D deficiency or alkalosisapyretic tetanus, intermittent cramp, intermittent tetanus, tetanillasyndrome - a pattern of symptoms indicative of some disease

Translations

tetany

(tĕt`ənē), condition of mineral imbalance in the body that results in severe muscle spasms. Tetany occurs when the concentration of calcium ions (Ca⁺⁺) in extracellular fluids such as plasma falls below normal. The nervous system becomes increasingly excitable, and nerves discharge spontaneously, sending impulses to skeletal muscles and causing spasmodic contractions. Mild tetany is characterized by tingling in the fingers, toes, and lips; acute tetany, consisting of severe muscular contractions, tremors, and cramps, can result in death. Abnormally low extracellular calcium ion concentration can result from failure of the parathyroid glandsparathyroid glands
, four small endocrine bodies, located behind the thyroid gland, that govern calcium and phosphorus metabolism. These four masses of tissue (each about the size of a pea) are difficult to distinguish from the thyroid and are often embedded in it.
..... Click the link for more information. to release parathyroid hormone, the substance responsible for the regulation of calcium concentration in the body; a deficiency in vitamin D, which facilitates calcium ion absorption from the gastrointestinal tract; or alkalosis, an excessively alkaline state of body fluids resulting from persistent vomiting, rapid breathing, or excess activity of the hormone aldosteronealdosterone
, steroid secreted by the cortex of the adrenal gland. It is the most potent hormone regulating the body's electrolyte balance. Aldosterone acts directly on the kidney to decrease the rate of sodium-ion excretion (with accompanying retention of water), and to
..... Click the link for more information. . Most forms of tetany can be treated with calcium, vitamin D, and a controlled diet. Muscle tetany is also caused by the pathogenic bacterium Clostridium tetani in the disease tetanustetanus
or lockjaw,
acute infectious disease of the central nervous system caused by the toxins of Clostridium tetani. The organism has a widespread distribution and is common in the soil, human and animal feces, and the digestive tracts of animals and humans;
..... Click the link for more information. .

Tetany

a spasm, or cramp, caused by a disturbance in the body’s calcium metabolism. Such spasms may be parathyroprival—that is, they may result from insufficiency or complete absence of function of the parathyroid glands (either because of surgical removal or because of an inflammation or other pathological condition)—or may be caused by fluid loss owing to repeated vomiting or diarrhea (also called gastrointestinal tetany).

The principal manifestations of tetany are tonic muscular spasms of varying duration in different parts of the body, increased electromechanical excitability of the motor and sensory nerves, and increased excitability of the autonomic nervous system leading to the malfunction of internal organs. During an attack of tetany, sudden death may occur from asphyxia or heart failure. In latent tetany, an attack may be provoked by some factor such as infection or intoxication. Treatment of tetany is based on replacement therapy—that is, the injection of such substances as parathyroid hormone or calcium preparations.

REFERENCE

Shereshevskii, N. A. Klinicheskaia endokrinologiia. Moscow, 1957. Pages 116–31.

tetany

[′tet·ən·ē] (medicine) A state of increased neuromuscular irritability caused by a decrease of serum calcium, manifested by intermittent numbness and cramps or twitchings of the extremities, laryngospasm, bizarre behavior, loss of consciousness, and convulsions.

tetany

enUK

tetany

[tet´ah-ne] 1. continuous spasm" >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.

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]

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.

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.

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. [G. tetanos, tetanus]

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.

tetany

an abnormal increase in nerve and muscle excitability resulting in spasms of the arms and legs, caused by a deficiency of PARATHYROID secretion.

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

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]

tetany

tet·a·ny

tetany

tet•a•ny

tetany

tetany

tetany

Tetany

REFERENCE

tetany

tetany

tetany

tet·a·ny

tetany

tetany

tet·a·ny

tetany

tetany

Tetany

tet·a·ny

tetany

Synonyms for tetany

noun clinical neurological syndrome characterized by muscular twitching and cramps and (when severe) seizures

Synonyms

Related Words