Sign or Symptom
clonus Audio
clo·nus [ kloh-nuhs ]
Etymology:
Greek klonos = a tumult
Hence a confused movement. Clonic is the adjective.
Definitions related to clonus:
  • A form of involuntary muscular movement characterized by alternating contractions and relaxation in rapid succession. In the context of reflex testing, the ability to elicit clonus indicates injury to the nerve tracts above the point at which the reflex was initiated.
    NCI
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • A series of rhythmic and involuntary muscle contractions (at a frequency of about 5 to 7 Hz) that occur in response to an abruptly applied and sustained stretch.
    Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO)
    The Human Phenotype Ontology Project, 2025
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This content should not be used in place of medically-reviewed decision support reference material or professional medical advice. Some terms may have alternate or updated definitions not reflected in this set. The definitions on this page should not be considered complete or up to date.