-spasm
sudden involuntary muscle contraction
From Greek spasmos, a convulsion, from span, to pull
Meaning
What does -spasm mean?
-spasm is a suffix meaning sudden involuntary muscle contraction. It comes from Greek spasmos, a convulsion, from span, to pull.
A spasm in a vessel or airway narrows it: vasospasm cuts blood flow, bronchospasm and laryngospasm block air.
In real words
Medical words with -spasm
sudden tightening of the muscle in the walls of the bronchi, as in asthma, making breathing hard
vasospasm
a sudden, often lasting tightening of a blood vessel that narrows it and cuts blood flow
a sudden clamping of the vocal cords that blocks the airway, so for a short time the person cannot breathe or speak
involuntary spasms or twitching of the eyelids; the benign essential form is a type of dystonia
Sources
Checked against
Written for biofideX in plain words, after checking these references:
- 1.4 – Suffix – Building a Medical Terminology Foundation 2e
- 1.5: Common Suffixes
- SPASM Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com
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Changes in structure
-spasm is one of 11 parts in this lesson. Learn them together, then take real words apart.
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