Risus sardonicus
Risus sardonicus is a highly characteristic, abnormal, sustained spasm of the facial muscles that appears to produce grinning.[1]
The name of the condition derives from the appearance of raised eyebrows and an open "grin" - which can appear malevolent to the lay observer - displayed by those suffering from these muscle spasms.
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[edit] Causes
It is most often observed as a sign of tetanus. Poisoning with strychnine may result in a risus sardonicus.
In 2009 scientists at the University of Eastern Piedmont in Italy claimed to have identified hemlock water dropwort (Oenanthe crocata) as the plant responsible for producing the sardonic grin.[2][3] This plant is the most-likely candidate for the "sardonic herb," which was a neurotoxic plant used for the ritual killing of elderly people in pre-Roman Sardinia.
[edit] In popular culture
Arthur Conan Doyle's hero Sherlock Holmes uses the term to describe the facial distortion of the murder victim Bartholomew Sholto in his story The Sign of the Four.
A case of risus sardonicus features in the short story "Sardonicus" by Ray Russell, later used as the basis of the 1961 William Castle movie Mr. Sardonicus.
In the Batman comic book series, The Joker uses a toxin on some of his victims that induces a highly stylized version of this condition.
[edit] See also
- Tetanus
- Trismus
- Sardonicism
- Mr. Sardonicus
- Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus, a 1970 music album by Spirit
[edit] References
- ^ "risus sardonicus" at Dorland's Medical Dictionary
- ^ News Scan Briefs: Killer Smile, Scientific American, August 2009
- ^ G. Appendino, F. Pollastro, L. Verotta, M. Ballero, A. Romano, P. Wyrembek, K. Szczuraszek, J. W. Mozrzymas, and O. Taglialatela-Scafati (2009). "Polyacetylenes from Sardinian Oenanthe fistulosa: A Molecular Clue to risus sardonicus". Journal of Natural Products 72 (5): 962–965. doi:10.1021/np8007717. PMC 2685611. PMID 19245244. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=2685611.
[edit] External links
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