Category:Tetanus

Tet"a*nus, n. Etym: [l., fr. Gr.

1. (med.)

Defn: a painful and usually fatal disease, resulting generally from a Wound, and having as its principal symptom persistent spasm of the Voluntary muscles. When the muscles of the lower jaw are affected, it Is called locked-jaw, or lickjaw, and it takes various names from the Various incurvations of the body resulting from the spasm.

2. (physiol.)

Defn: that condition of a muscle in which it is in a state of Continued vibratory contraction, as when stimulated by a series of Induction shocks.