hypotonia
- noun
- /ˌhaɪpəˈtoʊniə/
- Specialized
- Children with hypotonia often need physical therapy to improve their muscle strength.
Examples
-
The doctor explained that hypotonia can cause delays in reaching developmental milestones.
-
Higher breast milk levels of planar PCBs, in particular, were associated with hypotonia (Huisman et al., 1995).
Academic text (2010) -
This is how we have to deal with aspiration, hypotonia, and our various feeding issues.
Blog text (13) -
He presented with megaloblastic anemia, microcephaly, developmental delay, and hypotonia, aged 5 months.
Academic text (1991) -
Parents are concerned when their infant is diagnosed with hypotonia due to its impact on movement.
Synonyms
A lack of normal muscle tightness so muscles feel weak and loose
A condition where muscles are too relaxed and feel loose
Low muscle tone that makes muscles feel weak or floppy
Lack of normal muscle tone that makes muscles weak and floppy
Loss of normal muscle tightness in a muscle or group of muscles
A condition of low muscle tension causing muscles to feel very weak
Muscles that are very loose so arms and legs feel limp and move easily
Antonyms
How Tense
- Specialized
- Specialized
- Specialized
- Specialized
Surface Forms
Morphology
hypotonia = hypo + ton + ia
Although hypo- and -ia are recognizable classical elements, the bound root ton- is specialized medical morphology, so the meaning is not readily recoverable for an average learner.
Etymology
Hypotonia comes from Greek parts: hypo- meaning 'under' or 'low' and tonia, related to tone meaning 'tension' or 'tightness'. So, hypotonia means 'low muscle tone', which is why muscles can feel soft and floppy.