Word parts
What it means
The neuromuscular junction is the point where a nerve signal passes to a muscle and makes it contract. Neuromuscular disorders, such as myasthenia gravis, ALS and muscular dystrophyDIS-truh-feeA condition in which a muscle or other tissue weakens and wastes away over time.dys- bad-trophy nourishment or growthFull entry , weaken muscles. Neuromuscular blocking drugs used in anesthesia stop all muscle movement, including breathing, so the client must be on a ventilator.
For the nurse
In a client with a neuromuscular disorder, watch breathing and swallowing closely. ISMP lists neuromuscular blocking agents as high-alert medications.
At a glance
| Spanish | neuromuscular |
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Related terms
neur/o
A word root that means nerve or the nervous system.
paralysis
Loss of the ability to move a part of the body, and sometimes loss of feeling in it.
motor neuron
A nerve cell that carries signals from the brain or spinal cord out to a muscle to make it move.
dystrophy
A condition in which a muscle or other tissue weakens and wastes away over time.