RIGIDITY

n. Ri2j-i"d'ia-ti. Lat., rigid it as (from rigifhts, stiff). Fr., rigidite. Ger., SteifJieit, Stetflgkeit. Stiffne , lack of pliability; of muscles, tonic contraction. [D.] Anatomical r. of the cervix uteri. Fr.. rigidite an atom i que (ou mecaiiique [Pajot]). That form of r. in which the cervix does not seem to have been wholly effaced, but preserves a certain length, and opens only to a certain extent, beyond which the uterine contractions have no effect on it, but in which it is neither swollen nor tender. [A, 15.] Cadaveric r. See RIGOR mort is (1st def.). Cerebellar r. Of H. Jackson, r. a ociated with tumor of the middle lobe of the cerebellum. First the spinal muscles become rigid, the head being drawn back and the spine curved, and this is followed by r. of the legs and arms. [D, 35.] Hemiplegic r. Spastic r. of the limbs affected with hemiplegia.- Muscular r. See Thornsen's DISEASE. Pathological r. of the cervix uteri. Fr., rigidite pathologique. R. of the cervix due to cicatricial ti ue or to organic disease, such as a neoplasm. [A, 15.] Post-mortem muscular r. See RIGOR mort is (1st def.). Spasmodic r. of the cervix uteri. Fr., rigidite srasmodique. R. due to spasmodic contraction of the cervix. [A, 15.] Waxy r. See FLEXIBILITAS cere a. RIGI-KAI/ [s. 409]