[Ontology-editors] muscle relaxation

[Midori Harris]

Hello,

Prompted by a SourceForge request from Ruth, I've noticed that we haven't 
been consistent about representing muscle relaxation. We have three terms 
that use 'relaxation' in the names, but all have definitions that are 
worded much like regulation term defs (especially the latter two):

[Term]
id: GO:0055119
name: relaxation of cardiac muscle
namespace: biological_process
def: "The process whereby the extent of cardiac muscle contraction is 
reduced." [GOC:ed]
is_a: GO:0055118 ! negative regulation of cardiac muscle contraction

[Term]
id: GO:0060085
name: smooth muscle relaxation of the bladder outlet
namespace: biological_process
def: "Any process that stops, prevents or reduces the frequency, rate or 
extent of smooth muscle contraction in the bladder outlet that contributes 
to the expulsion of urine from the body." [GOC:dph, PMID:15827347]
synonym: "synaptic transmission involved in urination" EXACT []
is_a: GO:0045986 ! negative regulation of smooth muscle contraction
relationship: part_of GO:0060073 ! micturition

[Term]
id: GO:0060087
name: relaxation of vascular smooth muscle
namespace: biological_process
def: "Any process that stops, prevents or reduces the frequency, rate or 
extent of vascular smooth muscle contraction." [GOC:dph, PMID:15867178]
synonym: "vascular smooth muscle relaxation" EXACT []
is_a: GO:0045986 ! negative regulation of smooth muscle contraction
relationship: part_of GO:0042311 ! vasodilation

On the other hand, for uterine smooth muscle and the generic smooth muscle 
parent, 'relaxation' is a related synonym for the negative regulation of 
contraction term:

[Term]
id: GO:0045986
name: negative regulation of smooth muscle contraction
namespace: biological_process
def: "Any process that stops, prevents or reduces the frequency, rate or 
extent of smooth muscle contraction." [GOC:go_curators]
synonym: "smooth muscle relaxation" RELATED []
is_a: GO:0006940 ! regulation of smooth muscle contraction
is_a: GO:0045932 ! negative regulation of muscle contraction
relationship: negatively_regulates GO:0006939 ! smooth muscle contraction

[Term]
id: GO:0070473
name: negative regulation of uterine smooth muscle contraction
namespace: biological_process
def: "Any process that modulates the frequency, rate or extent of uterine 
smooth muscle contraction." [GOC:go_curators]
synonym: "uterine smooth muscle relaxation" RELATED [GOC:mah]
is_a: GO:0045986 ! negative regulation of smooth muscle contraction
is_a: GO:0070472 ! regulation of uterine smooth muscle contraction
relationship: negatively_regulates GO:0070471 ! uterine smooth muscle 
contraction

Not only is the term naming inconsistent, the related scope of the 
relaxation synonyms is at odds with the fact that GO:0045986 is an is_a 
parent of GO:0060085 and GO:0060087 (I would expect exact or narrow 
scope).

There is also no generic parent named 'muscle relaxation', although Ruth 
has requested one as part of the SF item, nor is 'muscle relaxation' a 
synonym for 'negative regulation of muscle contraction' (GO:0045932). I 
think we should make this area of the graph consistent before we add any 
new terms.

So, my question is: which way should we standardize, separate terms or 
synonyms for muscle relaxation? Any comments are welcome.

SF link:
https://sourceforge.net/tracker/?func=detail&aid=2800451&group_id=36855&atid=440764

ccing ontdev list for archiving

cheers,
midori