MUSCARINISM Meaning and
Definition
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Muscarinism is a medical term that refers to the symptoms and effects caused by the excessive activation of the muscarinic receptors in the body. Muscarinic receptors are a type of receptor found in various tissues and organs throughout the body that are activated by a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine.
When muscarinic receptors are overstimulated, as in cases of muscarinism, it can lead to a range of symptoms. These symptoms mainly affect the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for regulating involuntary bodily functions such as breathing, digestion, and heart rate.
Common symptoms of muscarinism include excessive salivation, sweating, tear production, constricted pupils (miosis), blurred vision, gastrointestinal distress such as diarrhea and vomiting, increased bronchial secretions, decreased heart rate (bradycardia), low blood pressure (hypotension), and even muscular tremors or seizures in severe cases.
Muscarinism is most commonly caused by the ingestion, inhalation, or absorption of medications or chemicals that act as muscarinic receptor agonists, such as certain types of mushrooms (Amanita muscaria), certain types of insecticides, or medications used to treat certain medical conditions.
Treatment for muscarinism consists of supportive care and administration of medications called muscarinic receptor antagonists, which work by blocking the effects of excessive acetylcholine on the muscarinic receptors. Prompt medical attention is essential in cases of muscarinism to prevent further complications and provide appropriate treatment.
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A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for MUSCARINISM
- nuscarinism
- kuscarinism
- juscarinism
- myscarinism
- mhscarinism
- mjscarinism
- miscarinism
- m8scarinism
- m7scarinism
- muacarinism
- muzcarinism
- muxcarinism
- mudcarinism
- muecarinism
- muwcarinism
- musxarinism
- musvarinism
- musfarinism
- musdarinism
- musczrinism
Etymology of MUSCARINISM
The word "muscarinism" is derived from the term "muscarine", which in turn originates from the Latin scientific name of a mushroom called "Amanita muscaria". This mushroom contains a compound named muscarine, discovered in 1869 by the German chemist Oscar Liebreich.
The suffix "-ism" in "muscarinism" implies that it refers to a condition, state, or practice related to muscarine or its effects. In this case, muscarinism refers to the poisoning or toxic effect caused by the ingestion of muscarine.
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