muscle relaxant

In medicine, one of a number of drugs used to relax skeletal muscles. Muscle relaxants are used in patients undergoing surgery under general anaesthesia and in patients with disorders affecting the musculoskeletal system, such as chronic muscle spasm or spasticity.

Muscle relaxants used in general anaesthesia are also known as neuromuscular blocking drugs. They block the transmission of nerve impulses between the nerve and the skeletal muscle, which results in relaxation of the abdomen and diaphragm. The vocal cords are also relaxed to allow the passage of an endotrachael tube.