Antagonistic

In opposition to each other.

Bradykinesia

Condition of slow movement.

Cardiac muscle

Involuntary and found only in the heart. Highly coordinated contractions pump blood into the vessels of the circulatory system.

Dyskinesia

Abnormal involuntary movements of the extremities, trunk, or jaw.

Electromyogram

Record of the electricity of the muscle.

Electromyography (EMG)

Recording of muscle electrical activity in response to a nerve’s stimulation of the muscle.

Fibromyalgia

A common nonarticular rheumatic syndrome characterized by muscle pain.

Hemiplegia

Paralysis on one side of the body.

Hemostasis

The process by which the body seals a ruptured blood vessel to prevent further blood loss.

Hyperkinesia

Excessive movement of muscles of the body as a whole.

Hypertrophy

The enlargement of muscles.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

A procedure in which radio waves and a powerful magnet linked to a computer are used to create detailed pictures of areas inside the body.

Muscular dystrophy

A general term for the group of inherited myopathies that are characterized by wasting and weakness of the skeletal muscle

Myalgia

Pain in a muscle or group of muscles.

Myasthenia Gravis

A disease in which antibodies made by a person’s immune system prevent certain nerve-muscle interactions, causing weakness in the arms and legs, vision problems, and drooping eyelids or head.

Myeloma

Cancer that arises in plasma cells.

Paraplegia

Paralysis that affects both legs and lower part of the body.

Paresis

Partial paralysis wherein there is still some control of the muscles.

Polymyositis

An inflammatory disease of the muscles closest to the center of the body.

Quadriplegia

Paralysis of all four limbs.

Rhabdomyolysis

Necrosis or disintegration of skeletal muscle.

Skeletal muscle

The muscles responsible for voluntary muscle movement; also called striated muscle.

Smooth muscle

The muscles responsible for involuntary muscle movement; also called visceral muscle.

Sprain

The stretching or tearing of the supporting ligaments.

Strain

An overstretching or overexertion of a muscle or tendon.

Tendinitis

Inflammation of the tendon.