hypotonus

Thân thiện

A doctor checks a patient's hypotonus during a physical examination.

Definition

Noun: 1. Abnormally low muscle tone or tension: In medical and physiological contexts, 'hypotonus' refers to a condition where muscular tissue exhibits decreased tension, firmness, or resistance to passive stretch. It is the opposite of hypertonus (increased muscle tone).

Usage

• 'Hypotonus' is a specialized medical term used primarily in neurology, physiotherapy, and pediatrics to describe a state of reduced muscle tone.
• It is often used to describe a symptom of various neurological conditions or disorders affecting the central nervous system, peripheral nerves, or muscles themselves.
• The term is typically applied in clinical assessments and reports.

Examples

• The infant's hypotonus was evident during the neurological examination, as the limbs offered little resistance when moved by the doctor.
• Physical therapy is often recommended to manage the hypotonus associated with some genetic disorders.
• A key diagnostic feature was the diffuse hypotonus observed in the patient's skeletal muscles.

Advanced Usage

• The term is frequently used in differential diagnosis to distinguish between various causes of motor dysfunction.
• It can be quantified in clinical settings using standardized scales that measure resistance to passive movement.

Variants and Related Words

• Hypotonia (noun): This is a more common synonym for 'hypotonus' and is often used interchangeably in medical literature. (e.g., )
• Hypotonic (adjective): Describing the state of having low tone or tension. (e.g., )
• Hypertonus (noun): The antonym, meaning abnormally high muscle tone.

Synonyms

• Floppiness (a non-technical, descriptive term)
• Low muscle tone
• Reduced muscle tension

Antonyms

• Hypertonus
• Spasticity
• Rigidity
• High muscle tone

Học thuật

Noun

1. (of muscular tissue) the state of being hypotonic

Từ đồng nghĩa

• hypotonia
• hypotonicity