tetanus

tet·a·nus   (tět'n-əs)    n.   An acute, often fatal disease characterized by spasmodic contraction of voluntary muscles, especially those of the neck and jaw, and caused by the toxin of the bacillus Clostridium tetani, which typically infects the body through a deep wound. Also called lockjaw. Physiology A state of continuous muscular contraction, especially when induced artificially by rapidly repeated stimuli. [Middle English, from Latin, from Greek tetanos, rigid, tetanus; see ten- in Indo-European roots.] tet'a·nal (tět'n-əl) adj.

tetanus [(tet-n-uhs, tet-nuhs)]

An acute and infectious disease caused by the toxin produced by a kind of bacteria that enters the body through cuts or wounds; also called lockjaw. In tetanus, the muscles of the body, particularly the muscles of the jaw, contract in painful spasms. Tetanus is deadly but can be prevented through immunization (tetanus shots).

tetanus 

Main Entry: tet·a·nus
Pronunciation: 'tet-^&n-&s, 'tet-n&s
Function: noun
1 a : an acute infectious diseasecharacterized by tonic spasm of voluntary muscles and especially of the muscles of the jaw and caused by the specific toxin produced by a bacterium of the genus Clostridium (C. tetani)which is usually introduced through a wound —compare LOCKJAW b : TETANUS BACILLUS
2 : prolonged contraction of a muscle resulting from a series of motor impulsesfollowing one another too rapidly to permit intervening relaxation of the muscle

tetanus tet·a·nus (tět'n-əs)
n.

1. An acute, often fatal disease that is characterized by spasmodic contraction of voluntary muscles, especially one occurring in the neck and jaw, and that is caused by the neurotoxin Clostridium tetani, which typically infects the body through a deep wound. Also called lockjaw.

2. A state of continuous muscular contraction, especially when induced artificially by rapidly repeated stimuli.