clonus: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowTechnical/Medical
Quick answer
What does “clonus” mean?
A medical term for a series of involuntary, rhythmic, muscular contractions and relaxations.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A medical term for a series of involuntary, rhythmic, muscular contractions and relaxations.
Primarily used in neurology to describe a specific type of hyperreflexia, often indicating an upper motor neuron lesion. It has no common metaphorical or extended use in general language.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage between British and American medical English.
Connotations
Solely a clinical term with a negative connotation, as it indicates neurological pathology.
Frequency
Exclusively used within medical and healthcare contexts in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “clonus” in a Sentence
The patient {has/exhibits/demonstrates} clonus.Clonus was {observed/noted/present} in the ankle.The physician tested for {ankle/patellar} clonus.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “clonus” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- clonic (related adjective)
- The patient had clonic movements.
American English
- clonic (related adjective)
- The seizure progressed to a clonic phase.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in medical, nursing, and neuroscience literature and lectures.
Everyday
Virtually never used. A layperson might describe the symptom as 'uncontrollable shaking' or 'jerking'.
Technical
Core term in clinical neurology and physical examination.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “clonus”
- Using 'clonus' to describe any tremor or spasm (it is specifically stretch-induced and rhythmic).
- Pronouncing it as /ˈklɒnəs/ (like 'clone-us').
- Using it as a countable noun (e.g., 'a clonus' is less common; it's usually an uncountable sign).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, clonus is not a disease. It is a clinical sign or symptom that indicates an underlying neurological problem, typically involving the upper motor neurons.
A patient experiencing clonus is aware of the involuntary rhythmic movement but does not consciously control it. The examiner feels it as a rhythmic pulsing when holding the limb.
Clonus is specifically triggered and maintained by muscle stretch (a reflex), is rhythmical, and has a regular rate. Tremors can occur at rest or during action and may not be triggered by stretch; their rhythm can be less regular.
Almost never. It is a highly specialised medical term with no established metaphorical or general usage.
A medical term for a series of involuntary, rhythmic, muscular contractions and relaxations.
Clonus is usually technical/medical in register.
Clonus: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkləʊnəs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkloʊnəs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a clone (CLONus) of a muscle twitch, repeating over and over rhythmically.
Conceptual Metaphor
N/A (Highly technical term with no common conceptual metaphors)
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the word 'clonus' most appropriately be used?