Jerk
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Jerk (Medicine)
Jerk (/dʒɜːrk/), in the context of medicine, refers to a sudden involuntary movement, often resulting from muscle contraction. The term is often used in neurology to describe symptoms of various neurological disorders.
Etymology
The term "jerk" is derived from the Middle English word "yerk", which means to pull with a quick, sudden movement. The medical usage of the term began in the late 19th century.
Related Terms
- Myoclonus: A medical term for a brief, involuntary twitching of a muscle or a group of muscles. Jerks are a type of myoclonus.
- Clonus: A series of involuntary, rhythmic, muscular contractions and relaxations. Clonus is a sign of certain neurological conditions, and is therefore related to jerks.
- Tremor: An unintentional, rhythmic muscle movement involving to-and-fro movements (oscillations) of one or more parts of the body. It is the most common of all involuntary movements and can affect the hands, arms, eyes, face, head, vocal folds, trunk, and legs.
- Seizure: A sudden, uncontrolled electrical disturbance in the brain. It can cause changes in behavior, movements or feelings, and in levels of consciousness. Seizures can often be characterized by jerking movements.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Jerk
- Wikipedia's article - Jerk
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