Question

What is the difference with the stimuli used to create a graph of incomplete tetany as compared to a graph of complete tetany?

Answer 1

Tetany:

Definition - Sustained contraction of the muscle due to increased frequency of stimulation.

Repeated stimulation of the muscle causes multiple muscle twitch and these muscle twitches get summated. This summation of multiple muscle twitch is called tetany.

Tetany is of 2 types:

1. Complete tetany
2. Incomplete tetany

When the frequency of the stimuli is rapid, the muscle contraction gets summated and there is a sustained contraction of the muscle and there is no relaxation - this is called complete tetany

When the frequency of the stimuli is not that rapid, there are multiple contractions in the response to the stimuli. But there will be relaxation in between the muscle contraction ( twitches)

• The frequency of stimuli that causes complete tetany = 80 - 100 stimuli/sec
• The frequency of stimuli that causes incomplete tetany = 20 - 30 stimuli/sec