Definition

Relating to sudden, brief muscle jerks or spasms.

Example

The patient experienced myoclonic seizures that caused her body to jerk unexpectedly.

Conversation

Have you heard about myoclonic seizures?

Yeah, I read that they can cause sudden jerking movements.

Exactly! It must be really scary for those who experience them.

For sure, I can't imagine how unsettling that would be.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Myoclonic → It is formed from "myo-" (from Greek "mys", meaning muscle) and "clonus" (from Greek "klonos", meaning violent, confused motion). The word "myoclonic" refers to sudden, involuntary muscle jerks or spasms.

Memory Tip

Think of 'muscle' ('myo-') and 'violent motion' ('clonus') to remember that myoclonic refers to sudden muscle jerks.

Visually Confused Words