tetany

American

[tet-n-ee] / ˈtɛt n i /

noun

Pathology.

a state marked by severe, intermittent tonic contractions and muscular pain, due to abnormal calcium metabolism.

tetany British

/ ˈtɛtənɪ /

noun

pathol an abnormal increase in the excitability of nerves and muscles resulting in spasms of the arms and legs, caused by a deficiency of parathyroid secretion

"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

Etymology

Origin of tetany

From the New Latin word tetania, dating back to 1880–85. See tetanus, -y ³

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In the heart, tetany is not compatible with life, since it would prevent the heart from pumping blood.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

The refractory period is very long to prevent the possibility of tetany, a condition in which muscle remains involuntarily contracted.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

But in 1931 he was confronted with a woman dying of tetany and too weak for the operation.

From Time Magazine Archive

For example, giving antibiotics or deworming cattle because they look puny doesn' t do any good when cows are really dying of grass tetany because magnesium is short on spring pasture.

From Time Magazine Archive

Convulsions, laryngismus stridulus, tetany, or carpopedal spasm are all frequently met with.

From The Nervous Child by Cameron, Hector Charles

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023