Premium
The origin of muscle fasciculations and cramps
Author(s) -
Layzer Robert B.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
muscle and nerve
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.025
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1097-4598
pISSN - 0148-639X
DOI - 10.1002/mus.880171102
Subject(s) - fasciculation , motor nerve , anterior horn cell , medicine , muscle cramp , anatomy , electromyography , myokymia , anesthesia , physical medicine and rehabilitation , amyotrophic lateral sclerosis , disease
The anatomic site of origin of muscle fasciculations and cramps has been debated for many years. Many authors have argued for a central origin of the abnormal discharges in the anterior horn cells. However, most of the evidence favors a very distal origin in the intramuscular motor nerve terminals. The factors giving rise to these discharges are not well understood. Fasciculations may be related to chemical excitation of motor nerve terminals, whereas cramps may result from mechanical excitation of motor nerve terminals during muscle shortening. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.