epicritic

American  

[ep-i-krit-ik] / ˌɛp ɪˈkrɪt ɪk /

adjective

Physiology.

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

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epicritic British  

/ ˌɛpɪˈkrɪtɪk /

adjective

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

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Etymology

Origin of epicritic

First recorded in 1900–05, epicritic is from the Greek word epikrítikos determinative. See epicrisis ¹, -tic

Example Sentences

Its coiled, compact style and solid substance establish Author Price, 33, as a prose poet of epicritic sensibility.

From Time Magazine Archive

The areas of epicritic and of protopathic insensibility are illustrated in Fig. 91.

From Manual of Surgery Volume First: General Surgery. Sixth Edition. by Thomson, Alexis

Protopathic sensibility is of a lower order than epicritic.

From Manual of Surgery Volume Second: Extremities—Head—Neck. Sixth Edition. by Miles, Alexander

The division of the nerve at the elbow, or even at the axilla, does not increase the extent of the loss of epicritic or protopathic sensibility, but usually affects deep sensibility.

From Manual of Surgery Volume First: General Surgery. Sixth Edition. by Thomson, Alexis

Protopathic and epicritic sensibility are lost over the radial side of the forearm.

From Manual of Surgery Volume First: General Surgery. Sixth Edition. by Thomson, Alexis