Definition

Noun: 1. A prolonged, involuntary spasm of the muscles of the jaw, causing the mouth to remain tightly closed and difficult to open. This condition is a classic symptom of tetanus (lockjaw) but can also be caused by other conditions affecting the facial nerves or muscles.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The patient presented with severe trismus, a key indicator for diagnosing tetanus.
  • Following the dental surgery, she experienced temporary trismus, making it hard to eat.
  • Trismus can be a complication of radiation therapy to the head and neck.

Advanced Usage

• Clinical Context: In medical terminology, "trismus" is often used interchangeably with "lockjaw," though "lockjaw" is the lay term for the tetanus symptom, while "trismus" is the precise clinical term for the muscular spasm itself, regardless of cause.
  • The physician noted the trismus was likely due to a peritonsillar abscess rather than tetanus.

Variants and Related Words

• Lockjaw (n): The common, non-technical term for trismus, especially when caused by tetanus.
• Tetanus (n): An acute infectious disease often characterized by trismus as its initial symptom.

Synonyms

• Lockjaw: (Common synonym, specifically for tetanus-related trismus)
• Jaw clenching: (A more general descriptive term, not a clinical synonym)

Related Phrases

• To present with trismus: A common medical phrase describing a patient's condition upon examination.
  • The injured worker presented with trismus and muscle rigidity.

Noun

1. prolonged spasm of the jaw muscles