Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Tetanic contraction
Introduction
A tetanic contraction occurs when a motor unit has been maximally stimulated by its motor neuron. It often occurs during tetanic stimulation of the motor unit, usually muscle or nerve. They may also occur as part of an extrapyramidal adverse drug reaction of some typical antipsychotic drugs, specifically the opisthotonos effect of acute dystonic reaction in which “tetanic” heightening of entire body, head and belly up occurs.
See also
Template:Skin and subcutaneous tissue symptoms and signs Template:Nervous and musculoskeletal system symptoms and signs Template:Urinary system symptoms and signs Template:Cognition, perception, emotional state and behaviour symptoms and signs Template:Speech and voice symptoms and signs Template:General symptoms and signs
Editor-In-Chief: Template:Search infobox C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]