rhabd-, rhabdo- +

(Greek: rod; twig, stick, strip, branch; rod-shaped, striated; wand)

rhabdomyolysis
1. The destruction of skeletal muscle cells. Often the result of electrical injury, alcoholism, injury (or laying in one position for an extended period of time), drug side effects or toxins.
2. A condition in which skeletal muscle cells break down, releasing myoglobin (the oxygen-carrying pigment in muscle) together with enzymes and electrolytes from inside the muscle cells.

The risks with rhabdomyolysis include muscle breakdown and kidney failure since myoglobin is toxic to the kidneys.

Rhabdomyolysis can occur from extensive muscle damage as, for example, from a crushing injury or an electrical shock. Drugs or toxins, particularly some of the cholesterol lowering medications such as cerivastatin (Baycol), may cause this disorder. Underlying diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus can also lead to rhabdomyolysis. It is a common complication of major burns.

rhabdomyoma (s), rhabdomyomas or rhabdomyomata (pl)
1. A benign tumor derived from striated muscle. It is extremely rare, generally occurring in the tongue, neck muscles, larynx, uvula, nasal cavity, axilla, vulva, and heart. These tumours are treated by simple excision.
2. A benign neoplasm derived from striated muscle, occurring in the heart in children, probably as a hamartomatous process.
rhabdomyosarcoma
A malignant tumor that starts in muscle.

Rhabdomyosarcoma is primarily a childhood tumor and occurs most often in children under five years of age. Over 60% of cases show up before age ten. On rare occasions, rhabdomyosarcoma affects adults.

Rhabdomyosarcoma can begin anywhere there is muscle including (in order of frequency) the head and neck, arms and legs, genitourinary tract, and the trunk of the body.

rhabdophobia, rhobdophobia (s) (noun) (no plural)
1. An irrational dread of being beaten or a general fear of clubs: Jack, the boy in the story, had rhabdophobia and always ran away from his parents when they had rods, sticks or switches, afraid that he would be punished with them!
2. Anxiety about being criticized or punished: Mildred, suffering from rhabdophobia, was extremely frightened of being chastened by her teacher, Mrs. Hard, when she checked her homework and found a mistake because then she would be rapped on her knuckles!
3. An apprehension of magic: Some sources say that rhabdophobia is a horror of sorcery, witchcraft, or of conjuration and causing terrible things to happen!
rhabdophora
An extinct division of Hydrozoa which includes the graptolities.
rhabdos
1. A stick used by ancient Greek athletic trainers to maintain discipline.
2. A straight cytopharyngeal apparatus with walls supported by nematodesmata and sometimes containing toxicysts; it is characteristic of the lower ciliate protozoa.
rhabdosarcoma
A very dangerous cancer which develops from striated muscle tissue. There are three major forms:

1. Alveolar rhabdosarcoma: this cancer, which most often afflicts adolescents, typically develops in the extremities, body or eye cavities.

2. Embryonal rhabdosarcoma: this cancer, which strikes infants and young children, develops in the head, neck, extremities or lower genitourinary tract.

3. Pleiomorphic rhabdosarcoma: this cancer strikes adults and typically develops in the extremities.

rhabdosome
A colony of stick-shaped marine Graptolites (numerous extinct colonial marine animals).
rhabdosphere
A minute sphere composed of rhabdoliths or a spine or projecting formation that is found on cocoliths, the fossilized remains of golden-yellow algae.
rhabdosphincter
Striated muscular sphincter.
rhabdoviridae
A family of rod-shaped or bullet-shaped viruses of vertebrates, insects, and plants, including rabiesvirus and vesicular stomatitis virus (of cattle).

Rhabdoviruses infect a broad range of hosts throughout the animal and plant kingdom. Animal rhabdoviruses infect insects, fish, and mammals, including humans.

rhabdovirus
1. A rod-shaped virus that contains RNA; that is, the virus that causes rabies.
2. Any of various RNA-containing viruses of the family Rhabdoviridae, including the rabies virus.
rhabdus (s), rhabdi (pl)
A uniaxial sponge spicule.