Category: Mp-Mz

A rare and life-threatening complication of hypothyroidism (low levels of thyroid hormones in the bloodstream) characterized by loss of brain function (coma). Before a patient develops myxedema coma, features of hypothyroidism are usually present and may have gone unsuspected for a long period of time, including fatigue, lethargy, intolerance to cold, mental and mood changes, headaches , depression, weight gain, constipation, and changes…

A great number, a very large number, a huge number of something. There are, for example, myriad ways in which syphilis can present; it is the great imitator. “Myriad” is a Greek word for 10,000 (ten thousand).

An inherited disorder of the muscles and other body systems characterized by progressive muscle weakness, prolonged muscle contractions (myotonia), clouding of the lens of the eye (cataracts), cardiac abnormalities, balding, and infertility. Type 2 myotonic dystrophy is caused by mutation of a different gene than type 1 myotonic dystrophy and tends to be milder than type 1. Only about…

An inherited disease in which the muscles contract but have decreasing power to relax — this phenomenon is termed myotonia (irritability and prolonged contraction of muscles). The disease also leads to a mask-like expressionless face, premature balding, cataracts, and heart arrhythmias (abnormalities in heart rhythm). The onset of such problems is usually in young adulthood.…

Nearsightedness, the ability to see close objects more clearly than distant objects. Myopia can be caused by a longer-than-normal eyeball or by any condition that prevents light rays from focusing on the retina. Most forms of myopia can be managed with corrective lenses. Surgery is available to permanently correct some forms of myopia, although long-term effectiveness and…

Any and all diseases of muscle.

The muscular outer layer of the uterus.

A tumor of muscle. Myoma can refer specifically to a benign tumor of uterine muscle, also called a leiomyoma or a fibroid.

A muscle cell. From myo-, muscle + -cyte, cell = muscle cell. “Remaining young at heart is a desirable but elusive goal. Unbeknown to us, however, myocyte regeneration may accomplish just that.” (Nature 415, 240, 2003)

A condition of abnormal contraction of muscles or portions of muscles.