- tetanic contraction
- sustained contraction of a muscle without intervals of relaxation; see tetanus (def. 2). Called also tonic c.
Medical dictionary. 2011.
tetanic contraction
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Tetanic contraction — A tetanic contraction occurs when a motor unit has been maximally stimulated by its motor neuron. It often occurs during tetanic stimulation of the motor unit, usually muscle or nerve. They may also occur as part of an extrapyramidal adverse drug … Wikipedia
Tetanic — Te*tan ic, a. [Cf. L. tetanicus suffering from tetanus, Gr. ?, F. t[ e]tanique.] 1. (Physiol.) Of or pertaining to tetanus; having the character of tetanus; as, a tetanic state; tetanic contraction. [1913 Webster] This condition of muscle, this… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
tetanic — Relating to or marked by a sustained muscular contraction, as in tetanus. [G. tetanikos] * * * te·tan·ic te tan ik adj of, relating to, being, or tending to produce tetany or tetanus <a tetanic condition> <tetanic contractions>… … Medical dictionary
contraction — 1. A shortening or increase in tension; denoting the normal function of muscle. 2. A shrinkage or reduction in size. 3. Heart beat, as in premature c..beat. [L. contractus, drawn together] after c … Medical dictionary
Muscle contraction — See also: Twitch and Tremor Top down view of skeletal muscle Muscle fiber generates tension through the action of actin and myosin cross bridge cycling. While under tension, the muscle may lengthen, shorten, or … Wikipedia
Tetanus — An often fatal infectious disease caused by the bacteria Clostridium tetani (C. tetani) which usually enters the body through a puncture, cut, or open wound. Tetanus is characterized by profoundly painful spasms of muscles, including locking of… … Medical dictionary
Skeletal muscle — is a type of striated muscle, which usually attaches to tendons. Skeletal muscles are used to create movement, by applying force to bones and joints; via contraction. They generally contract voluntarily (via somatic nerve stimulation), although… … Wikipedia
Motor unit — ”A motor unit is a single α motor neuron and all of the corresponding muscle fibers it innervates; all of these fibers will be of the same type (either fast twitch or slow twitch). When a motor unit is activated, all of its fibers contract.… … Wikipedia
emprosthotonos — A tetanic contraction of the flexor muscles, curving the back with concavity forward. [G. emprosthen, forward, + tonos, tension] * * * em·pros·thot·o·nos .em .präs thät ən əs n a tetanic spasm in which the head and feet are brought forward toward … Medical dictionary
Motor unit recruitment — is the progressive activation of a muscle by successive recruitment of contractile units (motor units) to accomplish increasing gradations of contractile strength. A motor unit consists of one motor neuron and all of the muscle fibers it… … Wikipedia
