Lexic.us

Definition of Opisthotonos

1. Noun. Severe spasm in which the back arches and the head bends back and heels flex toward the back.

Definition of Opisthotonos

1. n. A tetanic spasm in which the body is bent backwards and stiffened.

Definition of Opisthotonos

1. Noun. (medicine) A tetanic spasm in which the body is bent backwards and stiffened. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Medical Definition of Opisthotonos

1. A form of spasm in which the head and the heels are bent backward and the body bowed forward. Origin: Gr. Tonos = tension This entry appears with permission from the Dictionary of Cell and Molecular Biology (11 Mar 2008)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Opisthotonos

Literary usage of Opisthotonos

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Diseases of children by James Frederic Goodhart, George Frederic Still (1905)
"Cervical opisthotonos is a symptom only, but it is of such importance as to ... The case must be gone into completely, as sometimes the opisthotonos has ..."

2. Epilepsy and other chronic convulsive diseases: Their Causes, Symptoms by William Richard Gowers (1885)
"During its existence the foot-clonus can, as Char- cot has pointed out, be often obtained by pressure on the sole of the foot. opisthotonos. ..."

3. The American Journal of the Medical Sciences by Southern Society for Clinical Investigation (U.S.) (1902)
"This pseudo- tetanus in its clinical history bears much resemblance to true tetanus, having in common the symptoms of trismus, opisthotonos, muscular crises ..."

4. Landmarks, Medical and Surgical by Luther Holden, William Williams Keen (1881)
"This is •well marked in severe cases of opisthotonos, where the body is supported on ... opisthotonos. After Bell.] Still better may it be observed when a ..."

5. Transactions of the American Pediatric Society by American Pediatric Society (1902)
"DIPHTHERIA WITH PERSISTENT TRISMUS AND opisthotonos. ... having in common the symptoms of trismus, opisthotonos, muscular crises, and laryngospasm. ..."

6. Proceedings by Philadelphia County Medical Society (1902)
"Trismus and opisthotonos lasted about 36 hours when death resulted. CASE XXXIII. White boy, aged 5 years, vaccinated with glycerinated lymph, in Camden, NJ, ..."

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