Skeletal muscle relaxant

Skeletal Muscle Relaxant

A Skeletal Muscle Relaxant (pronunciation: skel·e·tal mus·cle re·lax·ant) is a type of pharmacological agent used to alleviate muscle spasms that may arise from various conditions such as muscle spasms, spasticity, and musculoskeletal disorders.

Etymology

The term "Skeletal Muscle Relaxant" is derived from the words "skeletal", referring to the type of muscle targeted by these drugs, "muscle", a type of soft tissue in the body that produces force and motion, and "relaxant", which refers to the drug's ability to reduce tension and effects of spasms in the muscles.

Types of Skeletal Muscle Relaxants

There are two main types of skeletal muscle relaxants: neuromuscular blockers and spasmolytics.

Neuromuscular blockers are drugs that are primarily used during surgical procedures to induce temporary paralysis. They work by blocking the transmission of nerve impulses to the muscles.
Spasmolytics, also known as "centrally acting" muscle relaxants, are used to alleviate muscle spasms. They work by suppressing muscle spasms and reducing muscle tone.

Related Terms

Muscle spasm: A sudden, involuntary contraction of one or more muscles.
Spasticity: A condition in which certain muscles are continuously contracted.
Musculoskeletal disorder: Disorders that affect the muscles, bones, and joints.
Pharmacological agent: A chemical substance used to treat, cure, prevent, or diagnose a disease or to promote well-being.
Neuromuscular-blocking drug: A type of drug that causes paralysis of the muscles by blocking the transmission of nerve impulses.
Spasmolytic: A type of drug used to alleviate muscle spasms.