Which term refers to reduced opening of the jaw?

Which term refers to reduced opening of the jaw?

• A. Absence seizure
• B. Spina Bifida
• C. Trismus
• D. Cor Pulmonale

Answer: (C)

Reduced opening of the jaw is trismus, a condition where the jaw muscles spasm or the temporomandibular joint becomes stiff, limiting how wide you can open the mouth. Normal mouth opening in adults is usually about 40–60 mm, so any significant reduction signals trismus. This matters in prehospital care because a restricted mouth opening complicates airway management; standard laryngoscopy or placement of certain airway devices may be difficult, so anticipate alternatives and protect the airway accordingly. Common causes include dental infections or abscesses, trauma to the jaw or TMJ, tetanus with jaw rigidity, inflammation, or post-radiation changes. The other terms describe conditions unrelated to jaw opening: absence seizures involve brief staring spells, spina bifida is a neural tube defect, and cor pulmonale is right heart failure from lung disease.

Reduced opening of the jaw is trismus, a condition where the jaw muscles spasm or the temporomandibular joint becomes stiff, limiting how wide you can open the mouth. Normal mouth opening in adults is usually about 40–60 mm, so any significant reduction signals trismus. This matters in prehospital care because a restricted mouth opening complicates airway management; standard laryngoscopy or placement of certain airway devices may be difficult, so anticipate alternatives and protect the airway accordingly. Common causes include dental infections or abscesses, trauma to the jaw or TMJ, tetanus with jaw rigidity, inflammation, or post-radiation changes. The other terms describe conditions unrelated to jaw opening: absence seizures involve brief staring spells, spina bifida is a neural tube defect, and cor pulmonale is right heart failure from lung disease.