CONTRACTURE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does contracture mean? 

• CONTRACTURE (noun)
  The noun CONTRACTURE has 1 sense:

1. an abnormal and usually permanent contraction of a muscle

  Familiarity information: CONTRACTURE used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CONTRACTURE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An abnormal and usually permanent contraction of a muscle

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("contracture" is a kind of...):

contraction; muscle contraction; muscular contraction ((physiology) a shortening or tensing of a part or organ (especially of a muscle or muscle fiber))

Derivation:

contract (squeeze or press together)

 Context examples 

A rare, non-progressive congenital disorder characterized by multiple joint contractures which are present at birth.

(Arthrogryposis, NCI Thesaurus)

Contractures may be caused by injury, scarring, and nerve damage, or by not using the muscles.

(Contracture, NCI Dictionary)

It is characterized by slowly progressive muscle weakness, atrial conduction defects, cardiomyopathy, and early contractures of the elbow, ankle and neck.

(Emery-Dreifuss Muscular Dystrophy, NCI Thesaurus)

Common problems include: • Injuries that result in fractures, ruptured ligaments and dislocations • Osteoarthritis - wear-and-tear arthritis. It can also cause deformity. • Tendinitis - irritation of the tendons • Dupuytren's contracture - a hereditary thickening of the tough tissue that lies just below the skin of your palm. It causes the fingers to stiffen and bend. • Trigger finger - an irritation of the sheath that surrounds the flexor tendons. It can cause the tendon to catch and release like a trigger.

(Finger Injuries and Disorders, NIH)