epicritic

[ ep-i-krit-ik ]

/ ˌɛp ɪˈkrɪt ɪk /

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adjective Physiology.

noting or pertaining to a discriminating responsiveness to small variations in pain or temperature stimuli (opposed to protopathic).

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Origin of epicritic

First recorded in 1900–05, epicritic is from the Greek word epikrítikos determinative. See epicrisis¹, -tic

Words nearby epicritic

epicontinental, epicotyl, epicranial muscle, epicranium, epicrisis, epicritic, epic simile, Epictetus, epicure, epicurean, Epicureanism

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use epicritic in a sentence

Protopathic and epicritic sensibility are lost over the radial side of the forearm.
Manual of Surgery|Alexis Thomson and Alexander Miles
The areas of epicritic and of protopathic insensibility are illustrated in Fig. 91.
Manual of Surgery|Alexis Thomson and Alexander Miles

British Dictionary definitions for epicritic

epicritic

/ (ˌɛpɪˈkrɪtɪk) /

adjective

(of certain nerve fibres of the skin) serving to perceive and distinguish fine variations of temperature or touch

Word Origin for epicritic

C20: from Greek epikritikos decisive, from epikrinein to decide, from epi- + krinein to judge

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for epicritic

epicritic

[ ĕp′ĭ-krĭt′ĭk ]

adj.

Of, relating to, or mediating the ability to discriminate slight differences in sensory stimuli, especially of touch and temperature.