epicritic

[ ep-i-krit-ik ]

adjective

, Physiology.

1. noting or pertaining to a discriminating responsiveness to small variations in pain or temperature stimuli ( protopathic ).

epicritic

/ ˌɛpɪˈkrɪtɪk /

adjective

1. (of certain nerve fibres of the skin) serving to perceive and distinguish fine variations of temperature or touch

Word History and Origins

Origin of epicritic¹

First recorded in 1900–05, epicritic is from the Greek word epikrítikos determinative. See epicrisis ¹, -tic

Word History and Origins

Origin of epicritic¹

C20: from Greek epikritikos decisive, from epikrinein to decide, from epi- + krinein to judge

Example Sentences

Protopathic and epicritic sensibility are lost over the radial side of the forearm.

From Project Gutenberg

The areas of epicritic and of protopathic insensibility are illustrated in Fig. 91.

From Project Gutenberg