hypotonia
|hy-po-to-ni-a|
🇺🇸
/ˌhaɪ.poʊˈtoʊ.ni.ə/
🇬🇧
/ˌhaɪ.pəˈtəʊ.ni.ə/
reduced muscle tone
Etymology
'hypotonia' originates from New Latin, specifically the prefix 'hypo-' meaning 'under, less' and the Greek word 'tonos' meaning 'tone'.
'hypotonia' was formed in modern medical terminology by combining 'hypo-' and 'tonia', and entered English medical vocabulary in the late 19th to early 20th century.
Initially, it meant 'reduced muscle tone', and this meaning has remained consistent in modern medical usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a condition in which there is decreased muscle tone, resulting in floppiness or reduced resistance to passive movement.
Infants with hypotonia may have difficulty holding up their heads.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/06 07:36