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epicritic

[ep-i-krit-ik]
adjective Physiology.
  1. 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
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for epicritic

Historical Examples

  • 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

adjective
  1. (of certain nerve fibres of the skin) serving to perceive and distinguish fine variations of temperature or touch
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Word Origin

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
epicritic in Medicine

epicritic

(ĕp′ĭ-krĭt′ĭk)
adj.
  1. Of, relating to, or mediating the ability to discriminate slight differences in sensory stimuli, especially of touch and temperature.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.