myotonic dystrophy
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- noun
- /ˌmaɪəˈtɒnɪk ˈdɪstrəfi/
- Specialized
:
distrofia miotónica
- Understanding myotonic dystrophy is important for managing its symptoms over time.
Examples
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The surviving brother (aged 19 years) was known to have myotonic dystrophy.
Academic text (2003) -
The surviving brother (aged 19 years) was known to have myotonic dystrophy.
Academic text (2003) -
Family F: myotonic dystrophy with conduction disease; the previously asymptomatic 28-year-old proband died while cycling up a hill.
Academic text (2003) -
The doctor explained that myotonic dystrophy can lead to muscle weakness in the arms and legs.
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She was diagnosed with myotonic dystrophy, which causes difficulty in speaking and moving.
Synonyms
A genetic disease causing slow muscle weakness and trouble relaxing muscles, often in face and hands
A severe inherited muscle disease that causes progressive weakness and muscle loss, often affecting the face, neck, hands, and feet
A rare inherited muscle condition that causes slow loss of strength and muscle stiffness
Surface Forms
Morphology
The term is a straightforward medical compound: 'myotonic' denotes slow muscle relaxation and 'dystrophy' denotes progressive muscle wasting, so together they describe a disorder with those specific muscle problems. This adjective+noun composition is directly compositional and follows common medical naming patterns (and similar logic exists across many languages), so a learner who knows both constituents can infer the overall meaning.
Etymology
The medical name myotonic dystrophy comes from Greek parts: myo- meaning 'muscle', -tonic meaning 'tight', and dystrophy meaning 'weakening'. This gives the picture of muscles that stay tight and then get weaker, so the term describes a condition where muscles cannot relax and slowly become weak.