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Glite Dictionary
💪 Low muscle tone 💧 Low solute fluid
hypotonic

hypotonic

8.8
Muscles or body tissue that are less firm than normal and feel limp
  • adjective
  • /ˌhaɪpəˈtɒnɪk/
  • Specialized
translation icon : hipotónico
  • The doctor explained that the newborn was hypotonic, making it harder for him to hold his head up.

Examples

  • These children are often hypotonic, with delayed motor development.

    Academic text (2010)

  • The infant appears to be hypotonic.

    Academic text (2010)

  • Children with a hypotonic condition may struggle to develop the muscle strength needed for walking.

  • After the examination, the therapist noted that the patient showed hypotonic characteristics in his leg muscles.

Antonyms

hypertonic
  • Specialized
8.9

Muscle or tissue that is too tight and makes movement difficult

How Tense

spastic
  • Specialized
12 8.6
hypertonic
  • Specialized
8.9
normal
∞ 1.0
hypotonic
  • Specialized
8.8
flaccid
14 7.3

Surface Forms

hypotonic positive

Morphology

hypotonic = tonic (semi-transparent) = hypo + tonic

The meaning is built regularly from 'hypo-' meaning below or deficient and 'tonic', but the medical/physiological sense is somewhat specialized.

Etymology

Hypotonic comes from hypo- meaning 'under' and tonic from 'tone', so it literally means 'less than normal muscle tone'. That's why hypotonic tissue or muscle feels loose and weak.