epicritic

[ ep-i-krit-ik ]

/ ˌɛp ɪˈkrɪt ɪk /

adjective Physiology.

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

Nearby words

epicontinental, epicotyl, epicranial muscle, epicranium, epicrisis, epicritic, epictetus, epicure, epicurean, epicureanism, epicurus

Origin of epicritic

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for epicritic

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

Medicine 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.