PsychologyJuly 5, 2026

succinylcholine

/ˌsʌksɪnɪlˈkoʊliːn/

Definition

A medication used as a muscle relaxant to prevent severe physical convulsions during medical procedures like electroconvulsive therapy.

Etymology

The name is a compound derived from 'succinyl,' referring to succinic acid (from Latin 'succinum,' meaning amber), and 'choline,' derived from the Greek 'chole,' meaning bile.

In the news

The article uses this term to explain that by the 1950s, medical practices had evolved to use muscle relaxants, making ECT safer and preventing the violent physical injuries depicted in the film's horror scenes.

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