tetanus

Physiology

(noun)

When the frequency of muscle contraction is such that the maximal force is tension is generated without any relaxation of the muscle.

Related Terms

Microbiology

(noun)

A serious and often fatal disease caused by the infection of an open wound with the anaerobic bacterium Clostridium tetani, found in soil and the intestines and feces of animals.

Related Terms

Examples of tetanus in the following topics:

  • Tetanus

    • Tetanus often begins with mild spasms in the jaw muscles (lockjaw).
    • There are currently no blood tests that can be used to diagnose tetanus.
    • The diagnosis is based on the presentation of tetanus symptoms.
    • Unlike many infectious diseases, recovery from naturally acquired tetanus does not usually result in immunity to tetanus.
    • The booster may not prevent a potentially fatal case of tetanus from the current wound as it can take up to two weeks for tetanus antibodies to form.

  • Interactions of Skeletal Muscles

    • If the frequency of action potentials generated increases to such a point that muscle tension has reached its peak and plateaued and no relaxation is observed then the muscle contraction is described as a tetanus.
    • If the frequency of these contractions increases to the point where maximum tension is generated and no relaxation is observed then the contraction is termed a tetanus.

  • Vaccination

    • Some vaccinations are composed of live suspensions of weak or attenuated cells or viruses, deadened cells or viruses, or extracted bacterial products such as the toxoids used to immunize against diphtheria and tetanus.

  • Development of New Vaccines

    • The implementation of large-scale, comprehensive national immunization programs, and the considerable successes that were achieved in the eradication of smallpox and the reduction of polio, measles, pertussis, tetanus, and meningitis, were among the most notable achievements of the 20th century.

  • Microbial Growth Cycle

    • Tetanus is an obligate anaerobe so it will infect areas where oxygen in limited.

  • Immune Complex Autoimmune Reactions

    • Arthus reactions have been infrequently reported after vaccination against diphtheria and tetanus.

  • Paralysis-Causing Bacterial Neurotoxins

    • By inhibiting acetylcholine release, the toxin interferes with nerve impulses and causes flaccid (sagging) paralysis of muscles in botulism, as opposed to the spastic paralysis seen in tetanus.

  • Koch and Pure Culture

    • By using his methods, Koch's pupils found the organisms responsible for diphtheria, typhoid, pneumonia, gonorrhoea, cerebrospinal meningitis, leprosy, bubonic plague, tetanus, and syphilis.

  • Diphtheria

    • In the United States, for example, there were 52 reported cases of diphtheria between 1980 and 2000; between 2000 and 2007, there were only three cases as the diphtheria–pertussis–tetanus (DPT) vaccine is recommended for all school-age children.

  • Differences Between Centrally Planned and Market Economies

    • For instance, in 2000 there was a shortage of tetanus vaccine in the United States.