Nuchal Rigidity Definition

Nuchal Rigidity: Continuous involuntary sustained muscle contraction which is often a manifestation of BASAL GANGLIA DISEASES. When an affected muscle is passively stretched, the degree of resistance remains constant regardless of the rate at which the muscle is stretched. This feature helps to distinguish rigidity from MUSCLE SPASTICITY. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p73)

Terms Related to Nuchal Rigidity

Muscle Spasticity
A form of muscle hypertonia associated with upper MOTOR NEURON DISEASE. Resistance to passive stretch of a spastic muscle results in minimal initial resistance (a ...
Skeletal Muscle Fasciculation
Involuntary contraction of the muscle fibers innervated by a motor unit. Fasciculations can often by visualized and take the form of a muscle twitch or ...
Clasp-Knife Spasticity
A form of muscle hypertonia associated with upper MOTOR NEURON DISEASE. Resistance to passive stretch of a spastic muscle results in minimal initial resistance (a ...
Muscle Cramp
A sustained and usually painful contraction of muscle fibers. This may occur as an isolated phenomenon or as a manifestation of an underlying disease process ...
Spastic
A form of muscle hypertonia associated with upper MOTOR NEURON DISEASE. Resistance to passive stretch of a spastic muscle results in minimal initial resistance (a ...
Fasciculation
Involuntary contraction of the muscle fibers innervated by a motor unit. Fasciculations can often by visualized and take the form of a muscle twitch or ...

Synonym: gegenhalten, extrapyramidal rigidity, extensor rigidity, cogwheel rigidity, catatonic rigidity, muscular rigidity, muscle rigidity.

Additional tags: nuchal rigidity

Medical Conditions Dictionary

Nuchal Rigidity Definition

Terms Related to Nuchal Rigidity

Muscle Spasticity

Skeletal Muscle Fasciculation

Clasp-Knife Spasticity

Muscle Cramp

Spastic

Fasciculation

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