myasthenia

[ mahy-uhs-thee-nee-uh ]

noun

, Pathology.

1. muscle weakness.

myasthenia

/ ˌmaɪəsˈθɛnɪk; ˌmaɪəsˈθiːnɪə /

noun

1. any muscular weakness
2. short for myasthenia gravis

Derived Forms

• myasthenic, adjective

Other Words From

• my·as·then·ic [mahy-, uh, s-, then, -ik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of myasthenia¹

First recorded in 1855–60; my- + asthenia

Word History and Origins

Origin of myasthenia¹

C19: from myo- + asthenia

Example Sentences

Bender confirmed her father’s death and said the cause was complications from myasthenia gravis, a neuromuscular disease.

From Washington Post

The doctor wrote that she wanted to distinguish between myasthenia and “another process causing . . . symptoms, like for example motor neuron disorders.”

From Washington Post

Could it be a different type of autoimmune disease — maybe myasthenia gravis?

From New York Times

Patients with myasthenia have muscles that tire out much more quickly than normal.

From New York Times

The deal gives Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen unit access to Momenta’s experimental therapy, nipocalimab, being tested for myasthenia gravis, a neuromuscular disease that causes weakness in muscles.

From Reuters