contraction /con·trac·tion/ (kon-trak´shun) a drawing together; a shortening or shrinkage.
Braxton Hicks contractions
Braxton Hicks contractions.
Braxton Hicks contractions light, usually painless, irregular uterine contractions during pregnancy, gradually increasing in intensity and frequency and becoming more rhythmic during the third trimester.
carpopedal contraction the condition due to chronic shortening of the muscles of the fingers, toes, arms, and legs in tetany.
cicatricial contraction the shrinkage and spontaneous closing of open skin wounds.
clonic contraction clonus.
hourglass contraction contraction of an organ, as the stomach or uterus, at or near the middle.
isometric contraction muscle contraction without appreciable shortening or change in distance between its origin and insertion. 
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Isotonic (A) and isometric (B) contraction.
isotonic contraction muscle contraction without appreciable change in the force of contraction; the distance between the muscle's origin and insertion becomes lessened.
lengthening contraction a muscle contraction in which the ends of the muscle move farther apart, as when the muscle is forcibly flexed.
paradoxical contraction contraction of a muscle caused by the passive approximation of its extremities.
postural contraction the state of muscular tension and contraction which just suffices to maintain the posture of the body.
shortening contraction a muscle contraction in which the ends of the muscle move closer together, as when a flexed limb is extended.
tetanic contraction sustained muscular contraction without intervals of relaxation.
tonic contraction tetanic c.
twitch contraction twitch.
uterine contraction contraction of the uterus during labor.
wound contraction the shrinkage and spontaneous closure of open skin wounds.
Braxton Hicks contractions
Tightening of the uterus or abdomen that can occur throughout pregnancy. These contractions do not cause changes to the cervix and are sometimes called false labor or practice contractions.
Mentioned in: Premature Labor
Braxton Hicks contractions.
See preterm contractions.
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