Clinical Diagnosis · Nervous System · Medium
Hypotonia
Meaning: Reduced resistance of muscles to passive stretch.
In practice: Floppy limbs are typical of lower motor neurone and cerebellar lesions.
Word parts
- hypo- means below or less than normal
Many medical words are built from Greek and Latin parts like these, so learning a few helps you work out new terms.
Quick check
Two questions on related clinical diagnosis words.
Which word means: Infection of the skin fold surrounding a fingernail or toenail.
Answer: Paronychia
Which word means: Cramping limb pain brought on by exercise and relieved by rest, due to poor arterial supply.
Answer: Claudication
Words like hypotonia come up in the daily game
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