Definition

Noun: A medical condition characterized by a lack of normal muscular tension or tonus. This results in reduced muscle stiffness and floppiness (hypotonia).

Usage

The term is used in medical and clinical contexts to describe a state of low muscle tone, which is a symptom rather than a specific disease. It is often observed in infants and can be associated with various neurological or muscular disorders.

Examples

• The pediatrician noted signs of amyotonia in the newborn, which warranted further neurological testing.
• Amyotonia can make it difficult for an infant to maintain posture or achieve motor milestones.
• The condition's primary feature is amyotonia, leading to the characteristic "floppy infant" presentation.

Advanced Usage

• Congenital amyotonia: A specific historical term sometimes used interchangeably with "benign congenital hypotonia," referring to low muscle tone present from birth without progressive weakness.
• While "amyotonia" specifically denotes lack of tone, it is crucial to distinguish it from amyotrophy, which refers to the wasting away of muscle tissue.

Variants and Related Words

• Amyotonic (adjective): Pertaining to or characterized by amyotonia.
  • The child exhibited amyotonic symptoms.
• Hypotonia: A more commonly used contemporary synonym in medical literature for reduced muscle tone.
• Floppiness: A non-technical, descriptive term for the physical manifestation of amyotonia.

Synonyms

• Hypotonia
• Muscle flaccidity
• Diminished muscle tone

Antonyms

• Hypertonia (increased muscle tone)
• Spasticity
• Rigidity

Noun

1. lack of normal muscular tension or tonus