Spasm n.
 1. Med. An involuntary and unnatural contraction of one or more muscles or muscular fibers.
 Note: ☞ Spasm are usually either clonic or tonic. In clonic spasm, the muscles or muscular fibers contract and relax alternately in very quick succession. In tonic spasm, the contraction is steady and uniform, and continues for a comparatively long time, as in tetanus.
 2. A sudden, violent, and temporary effort or emotion; as, a spasm of repentance.
 Cynic spasm Med. See under Cynic.
 Spasm of the chest. See Angina pectoris, under Angina.

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 an·gi·na n.
 1. Med. Any inflammatory affection of the throat, as the quinsy, malignant sore throat, croup, etc., especially such as tends to produce suffocation, choking, or shortness of breath. [Obs.]
 Angina pectoris Chest pain caused by myocardial ischemia precipitated by exertion and relieved by rest.  It is so called because the pain is accompanied by a sense of suffocating contraction or tightening of the lower part of the chest; -- called also breast pang, spasm of the chest.

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