What it means
The ending in words for muscle tightening that a person cannot control. Bronchospasm is tightening of the airway muscles, vasospasm of a blood vessel wall, and laryngospasm of the vocal cords.
Related terms
smooth muscle
Muscle that works without conscious control and lines hollow organs such as the stomach, intestines, bladder, airways and blood vessels.
skeletal muscle
Muscle attached to bones that a person moves by choice, such as the muscles of the arms and legs.