II. Pathophysiology

  1. Lowered muscular excitability threshold
  2. Results in involuntary spasms
  3. Diffuse Muscles involved in severe, spontaneous Tetany
    1. Laryngeal Stridor
    2. Generalized Tonic Clonic Seizure
    3. Death may occur

IV. Symptoms

  1. Muscle spasms
  2. Spasm may be preceded by lip, arm, leg Paresthesias

V. Signs

  1. Rigid, unyielding Muscles
  2. Carpopedal Spasm
  3. Chvostek's Sign
    1. Tap Facial Nerve against bone just anterior to ear
    2. Positive sign produces ipsilateral facial contraction

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Ontology: Tetany (C0039621)

Definition (MSH) A disorder characterized by muscle twitches, cramps, and carpopedal spasm, and when severe, laryngospasm and seizures. This condition is associated with unstable depolarization of axonal membranes, primarily in the peripheral nervous system. Tetany usually results from HYPOCALCEMIA or reduced serum levels of MAGNESIUM that may be associated with HYPERVENTILATION; HYPOPARATHYROIDISM; RICKETS; UREMIA; or other conditions. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p1490)
Definition (CSP) hyperexcitability of nerve and muscle when the concentration of extracellular ionized calcium is decreased.
Concepts Disease or Syndrome (T047)
MSH D013746
ICD9 781.7
ICD10 R29.0
SnomedCT 206837000, 206839002, 158212004, 271802009, 158214003, 267479004, 154697005, 10629009
English Tetanies, Tetany, TETANY, Tetany NOS, [D]Tetany, [D]Tetany NOS, [D]Tetany (context-dependent category), [D]Tetany NOS (context-dependent category), tetany, tetany (physical finding), fingers and wrists curl up (symptom), fingers and wrists curl up, Tetany [Disease/Finding], tetani, tetanies, [D]Tetany (situation), Tetany (finding), [D]Tetany NOS (situation), Tetany (disorder), Tetany, NOS, Tetany [Ambiguous]
French TETANIE, Tétanie
Portuguese TETANIA, Tetania
Spanish TETANIA, [D]tetania (categoría dependiente del contexto), [D]tetania, SAI (categoría dependiente del contexto), [D]tetania, SAI, [D]tetania (situación), [D]tetania, SAI (situación), [D]tetania, tetania (trastorno), tetania, Tetania
German TETANIE, Tetanie
Swedish Tetani
Japanese テタニー, 強直, けいれん質, 痙攣性体質, けいれん-筋強直性, 強縮症, 痙攣-筋強直性, 筋強直性痙攣, 痙攣質, 筋強直性けいれん, 強縮, テタニー
Czech tetanie, Tetanie
Finnish Tetania
Russian TETANIIA, SPAZMOFILIIA, СПАЗМОФИЛИЯ, ТЕТАНИЯ
Korean 강직증
Polish Spazmofilia, Tężyczka
Hungarian Tetania
Norwegian Tetani, Tetania
Dutch tetanie, Tetanie
Italian Tetania