Neuromuscular Medicine Glossary
100 terms total — 24 showing — Last updated 15 Sep 2026
AAEM AAEM
American Association of Electrodiagnostic Medicine, the professional organization that sets standards for electrodiagnostic testing and neuromuscular medicine practice.
Motor Unit
The functional unit of the neuromuscular system consisting of a motor neuron and all muscle fibers it innervates. Used i...
motor unit potential
The electrical activity of a single motor unit recorded during needle electromyography examination.
MUNE
Motor unit number estimation; electrophysiological technique used to quantify the number of functioning motor units in a...
MUNIX
Motor Unit Number Index, a neurophysiological technique for estimating motor unit numbers using surface EMG interference...
MUPS
Motor unit action potentials with increased duration, amplitude, and phases, indicating chronic neurogenic changes. A ke...
muscle biopsy
Surgical procedure removing muscle tissue sample for microscopic examination and diagnosis.
MuSK antibody
Autoantibodies against muscle-specific kinase protein, found in seronegative myasthenia gravis with distinct clinical fe...
Myasthenia Gravis
An autoimmune neuromuscular disorder characterized by weakness and fatigue of skeletal muscles. The condition involves a...
myasthenic crisis
Life-threatening exacerbation of myasthenia gravis requiring mechanical ventilation due to respiratory muscle weakness.
Myasthenic facies
Characteristic facial appearance in myasthenia gravis patients, featuring bilateral ptosis, weak facial expression, and...
myokymia
Continuous involuntary muscle contractions producing a rippling or undulating appearance of the muscle surface.
myopathy
Disease of muscle tissue causing weakness, typically with normal nerve function.
Myosin-binding protein C
A regulatory protein essential for proper cardiac muscle contraction. Mutations cause hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and so...
Myositis ossificans
Heterotopic bone formation within muscle tissue, typically following trauma or in genetic conditions. Creates characteri...
Myotonia
Delayed muscle relaxation after voluntary contraction, causing muscle stiffness. A key clinical finding in myotonic diso...
Myotonic Discharge
A characteristic electromyographic finding where muscle fibers fire repetitively after stimulation, producing a distinct...
myotonic dystrophy
An inherited multisystem disorder characterized by progressive muscle weakness and delayed muscle relaxation (myotonia).
NCS
Nerve conduction study measuring electrical conduction along peripheral nerves.
Necrotizing Autoimmune Myopathy
An inflammatory myopathy characterized by muscle fiber necrosis with minimal inflammatory infiltrate, associated with sp...
Needle Electrode
A recording electrode inserted into muscle tissue for electromyography, available in monopolar and concentric configurat...
Neurogenic Atrophy
Muscle wasting resulting from denervation, characterized by specific histological patterns including grouped fiber atrop...
neurogenic claudication
Pain, numbness, or weakness in the legs that occurs with walking and is relieved by rest or flexion, caused by spinal st...
neuromuscular junction
Synapse between motor neuron and muscle fiber where nerve signals trigger muscle contraction.
neuromuscular transmission defect
Impaired signal transmission between motor nerves and muscles at the neuromuscular junction.