atonia

1 9.9

A lack of normal muscle tightness so muscles feel weak and loose

noun
/əˈtoʊniə/

Specialized

: atonia

During REM sleep, there is a natural state of atonia that prevents the body from acting out dreams.

Examples

When he enters REM sleep, he doesn't get the muscle atonia, instead he moves around.
The patient experienced atonia, which resulted in a lack of muscle tension and difficulty moving.
Doctors explained that atonia during sleep is crucial for preventing physical injury while dreaming.

Synonyms

hypotonia

vsatonia

Specialized

1 9.9

Low muscle tension that makes muscles feel floppy and weak

is total absence of normal muscle tone rather than only reduction

atonicity

vsatonia

Specialized

1 9.9

Lack of normal muscle tone that makes muscles weak and floppy

is the standard medical label rather than the abstract noun form

atony

vsatonia

Specialized

1 9.9

Loss of normal muscle tightness in a muscle or group of muscles

is the usual form rather than this shorter noun variant

amyotonia

vsatonia

Specialized

9.9

A condition of low muscle tension causing muscles to feel very weak

is the general clinical label rather than that condition name

hypotonicity

vsatonia

Specialized

9.9

A condition where muscles are too relaxed and feel loose

denotes complete lack of normal muscle tone rather than reduction

Antonyms

tension

70 3.2

The force that pulls a rope or cable tight when it is stretched

tonicity

Specialized

1 9.9

Normal slight tightness in muscles that helps them respond to movement

How Toned

hypertonia

Specialized

1 9.8

muscle tone

Specialized

9 3.4

hypotonia

Specialized

1 9.9

atonia

Specialized

1 9.9

Surface Forms

atonia singular

atonias plural

Morphology

atonia = tonia (semi-transparent) = a + ton + ia

The prefix 'a-' denotes absence, and 'tonia' relates to muscle tone, but 'atonia' as a medical term may not be immediately clear to all learners.

Etymology

The word atonia comes from the Greek parts a- ('without') and tonos ('tone' or 'tension'), the same root you see in the English word tone. So atonia literally means 'without tone', which helps you remember it describes a loss of normal muscle tension.