myotonia

[ mahy-uh-toh-nee-uh ]

noun

, Pathology.

1. tonic muscle spasm or muscular rigidity.

myotonia

/ ˌmaɪəˈtɒnɪk; ˌmaɪəˈtəʊnɪə /

noun

1. lack of muscle tone, frequently including muscle spasm or rigidity Also calledamyotonia

Derived Forms

• myotonic, adjective

Other Words From

• my·o·ton·ic [mahy-, uh, -, ton, -ik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of myotonia¹

First recorded in 1895–1900; myo- + -tonia

Example Sentences

These mice exhibited severe myotonia, muscle weakness, impaired mobility, respiratory defects, and a marked reduction in lifespan.

From Science Daily

Myotonic goats, a common domestic goat in the U.S., have a genetic condition called myotonia congenital that causes their muscles to stiffen when they’re frightened.

From National Geographic

Examples include uses of the drug mexiletine to treat the rare muscle disease non-dystrophic myotonia, and experimental treatments for the Ebola virus.

From Nature

He had been labeled with a number of interesting diagnoses, such as chorea, epilepsy, myotonia, hysteria, and neurasthenia.

From Project Gutenberg