Fasciculation (also known as Fasciculations, Fasciculation, Muscular): Involuntary contraction of the muscle fibers innervated by a motor unit. Fasciculations may be visualized as a muscle twitch or dimpling under the skin, but usually do not generate sufficient force to move a limb. They may represent a benign conditi

NIH MeSH · D005207Diseases

Fasciculation

Also known asFasciculations · Fasciculation, Muscular · Fasciculations, Muscular · Muscular Fasciculation · Muscular Fasciculations · Fasciculation, Benign · Benign Fasciculation · Benign Fasciculations · Fasciculations, Benign · Fasciculation, Skeletal Muscle · Fasciculations, Skeletal Muscle · Muscle Fasciculation, Skeletal

Definition

Involuntary contraction of the muscle fibers innervated by a motor unit. Fasciculations may be visualized as a muscle twitch or dimpling under the skin, but usually do not generate sufficient force to move a limb. They may represent a benign condition or occur as a manifestation of MOTOR NEURON DISEASE or PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DISEASES. (Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p1294)

MeSH classification

  • C10.597.613.250
  • C23.888.592.608.250

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Common questions about Fasciculation

What does Fasciculation mean in medicine?
Involuntary contraction of the muscle fibers innervated by a motor unit. Fasciculations may be visualized as a muscle twitch or dimpling under the skin, but usually do not generate sufficient force to move a limb. They may represent a benign condition or occur as a manifestation of MOTOR NEURON DISEASE or PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DISEASES. (Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p1294) This definition is taken from the National Library of Medicine's MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) 2026 release, which is the standard vocabulary used to index PubMed and most medical literature.
Is Fasciculation known by any other names?
Yes. Fasciculation is also referred to as Fasciculations, Fasciculation, Muscular, Fasciculations, Muscular, Muscular Fasciculation in different clinical, research and patient-facing contexts. The MeSH descriptor groups all of these synonyms under a single canonical concept so research and records stay consistent.
Where does Fasciculation sit in the medical classification?
Fasciculation falls under the broader medical category "Diseases" in the MeSH hierarchy (tree numbers: C10.597.613.250, C23.888.592.608.250). Browsing the related concepts on this page takes you to neighbouring topics in the same branch of medicine.
Where can I get a plain-language explanation of Fasciculation?
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Source: NIH MeSH 2026 (D005207) — National Library of Medicine, public domain. View official MeSH record ↗