tetanus

tet·a·nus

noun \ˈte-tə-nəs, ˈtet-nəs\

Definition of TETANUS

1

a : an acute infectious disease characterized by tonic spasm of voluntary muscles especially of the jaw and caused by an exotoxin of a bacterium (Clostridium tetani) which is usually introduced through a wound — compare lockjaw b : the bacterium that causes tetanus

2

: prolonged contraction of a muscle resulting from rapidly repeated motor impulses

Origin of TETANUS

Middle English, from Latin, from Greek tetanos, from tetanos stretched, rigid; akin to Greek teinein to stretch — more at thin

First Known Use: 14th century

Other Microbiology Terms

pathogen, salmonella