rhabdomyolysis

noun

rhab·​do·​my·​ol·​y·​sis ˌrab-dō-mī-ˈä-lə-səs 

: the destruction or degeneration of muscle tissue (as from traumatic injury, excessive exertion, or stroke) accompanied by the release of breakdown products into the bloodstream and sometimes leading to acute renal failure

Examples of rhabdomyolysis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Several warned about the risk of rhabdomyolysis, an injury that occurs when muscles break down and release the protein myoglobin in the blood, per the Cleveland Clinic. —Greta Cross, USA Today, 1 June 2025

She was hospitalized overnight and diagnosed with exertional rhabdomyolysis, the lawsuit said. —Kate Linderman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 May 2025

In Underwood’s case, her rhabdomyolysis was fueled by a lack of water. —Cara Lynn Shultz, People.com, 21 Apr. 2025

However, doctors at the hospital soon discovered that Sendler had rhabdomyolysis, a rare muscle injury that causes the muscles in a person’s body to break down. —Sean Neumann, People.com, 21 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

rhabdo- + myo- + -lysis

Note: The term was introduced by Drummond H. Bowden et al., "Acute recurrent rhabdomyolysis (paroxysmal myohaemoglobinuria)," Medicine, vol. 35, issue 4 (December, 1956), pp. 335-54.

First Known Use

1956, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for rhabdomyolysis

• glycogenolysis
• autolysis
• cytolysis
• glycolysis
• haemolysis
• hydrolysis
• lipolysis
• photolysis
• pyrolysis
• thermolysis
• electrolysis
• fibrinolysis

Medical Definition

rhabdomyolysis

noun

rhab·​do·​my·​ol·​y·​sis ˌrab-dō-mī-ˈäl-ə-səs 

plural rhabdomyolyses -ˌsēz 

: the destruction or degeneration of skeletal muscle tissue (as from traumatic injury, excessive exertion, or stroke) that is accompanied by the release of muscle cell contents (as myoglobin and potassium) into the bloodstream resulting in hypovolemia, hyperkalemia, and sometimes acute renal failure