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Related Concept Videos

Skeletal Muscle Relaxants: Therapeutic Uses01:31

Skeletal Muscle Relaxants: Therapeutic Uses

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Skeletal muscle relaxants are used to relax muscle tone and alleviate painful muscle contractions. However, the choice of skeletal muscle relaxants depends on the duration of the surgical procedure in order to minimize potential side effects. Skeletal muscle relaxants like neuromuscular blocking agents [NMBAs] are commonly employed as adjuvants alongside general anesthetics in clinical settings. NMBAs are also used to maintain controlled ventilation during surgery of the larynx or pharynx...
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Relaxation of Skeletal Muscles01:29

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The period of muscle contraction primarily influences the duration of stimulation at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ), the presence of free calcium ions in the sarcoplasm, and the availability of energy or ATP to support contractions.
When an action potential reaches the axon terminal, it depolarizes the membrane and opens voltage-gated sodium channels. Sodium ions enter the cell, further depolarizing the presynaptic membrane. This depolarization causes voltage-gated calcium channels to open....
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Classification of Skeletal Muscle Relaxants01:28

Classification of Skeletal Muscle Relaxants

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Skeletal muscle relaxants are a group of drugs that can reduce muscle stiffness and induce temporary paralysis to relieve pain. These agents can act centrally to reduce muscle tone or spasms in painful conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or spinal injuries; they are called antispasmodics or spasmolytics.
Peripherally acting skeletal muscle relaxants interfere with the neurotransmission at the neuromuscular end plate to induce paralysis during...
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Centrally Acting Muscle Relaxants: Therapeutic Uses01:24

Centrally Acting Muscle Relaxants: Therapeutic Uses

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Centrally acting muscle relaxants reduce muscle tone and tension by interfering with the postsynaptic reflexes in the central nervous system.
Centrally acting drugs are classified into spasmolytic and antispasmodic drugs. Spasmolytic drugs such as baclofen, diazepam, and tizanidine inhibit spinal motor neurons and decrease muscle tone. Spasmolytic drugs are administered for severe and chronic spasms due to multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, stroke, and spinal cord and muscle injuries. However,...
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Peripherally and Centrally Acting Muscle Relaxants: A Comparison01:09

Peripherally and Centrally Acting Muscle Relaxants: A Comparison

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Skeletal muscle relaxants can target the central nervous system [CNS] to reduce muscle tension or act directly at the neuromuscular junction to induce temporary paralysis. These two classes of muscle relaxants are called centrally acting muscle relaxants and peripherally acting muscle relaxants. They differ in their action, mechanism, administration route, and clinical uses.
Centrally acting muscle relaxants can be further divided into spasmolytic and antispasmodic drugs. Spasmolytic...
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Teratogenicity01:07

Teratogenicity

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The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 2, 2026

Modeling Encephalopathy of Prematurity Using Prenatal Hypoxia-ischemia with Intra-amniotic Lipopolysaccharide in Rats
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Relaxin and preterm birth.

Frederico G Rocha, Jaime S Horton, Gillian D Bryant-Greenwood

    Italian Journal of Anatomy and Embryology = Archivio Italiano Di Anatomia Ed Embriologia
    |March 20, 2014
    PubMed
    Summary
    This summary is machine-generated.

    Preterm birth is a global issue. This study investigates the roles of systemic and intrauterine relaxin (RLN) in human preterm birth, offering new insights into its contribution to this critical obstetric complication.

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    Area of Science:

    • Reproductive biology
    • Obstetrics and Gynecology
    • Endocrinology

    Background:

    • Preterm birth (PTB) presents a significant global health challenge, particularly in developing nations.
    • Relaxin (RLN), a hormone traditionally linked to childbirth, has an incompletely understood role in human parturition.
    • The distinct systemic and local intrauterine sources of RLN necessitate integrated investigation.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To elucidate the contribution of both ovarian and intrauterine relaxin (RLN) to the phenomenon of preterm birth (PTB) in women.
    • To consolidate understanding of RLN's multifaceted roles in human pregnancy and labor.
    • To explore potential therapeutic targets related to RLN signaling in preventing PTB.

    Main Methods:

    • Systemic analysis of circulating relaxin (RLN) levels during pregnancy.
    • Assessment of autocrine/paracrine relaxin (RLN) production within the intrauterine environment.
    • Correlation of RLN levels from both sources with the incidence of preterm birth (PTB).

    Main Results:

    • Preliminary findings indicate differential contributions of systemic and intrauterine relaxin (RLN) to preterm birth (PTB) risk.
    • Specific patterns of RLN expression and secretion are associated with the timing of delivery.
    • The interplay between ovarian and intrauterine RLN signaling may be crucial in modulating human parturition.

    Conclusions:

    • Integrating systemic and local relaxin (RLN) data provides a more comprehensive view of its role in human preterm birth (PTB).
    • Understanding these complex relaxin (RLN) dynamics is essential for developing novel strategies to prevent PTB.
    • Further research is warranted to fully delineate the therapeutic potential of targeting RLN pathways in obstetric care.