hypertonia
|hy-per-to-ni-a|
C1
🇺🇸
/ˌhaɪ.pərˈtoʊ.ni.ə/
🇬🇧
/ˌhaɪ.pəˈtəʊ.ni.ə/
excessive muscle tone
Etymology
Etymology Information
'hypertonia' originates from New Latin, specifically the word 'hypertonia,' where 'hyper-' meant 'over, excessive' and 'tonia' meant 'tone or tension.'
Historical Evolution
'hypertonia' was formed in modern medical terminology from Greek roots and entered English medical vocabulary in the late 19th century.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'excessive muscle tone,' and this meaning has remained consistent in medical usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an abnormal increase in muscle tone, resulting in stiffness and difficulty in movement.
Hypertonia is often seen in patients with certain neurological disorders.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/06 07:53