CONTRACTION

n. Ko2n-tra2k's hun. Gr., (rvoroAij (from <rvoTe'AAe(T0<u, to contract). Lat., contractio (from contra here. to contract), systole. Fr., c. Ger., Zusammenziehung, Zuckung, C., Koniraction, Verengerung (constriction), Verkiirzung (shortening). It., contrazione, ristretiezza (narrowing). Sp., contraccion. 1. The act of contracting. 2. The state of being contracted. 3. In physiology, the sum of the phenomena which accompany a single muscular movement. [K.] Anodal-closure c. See ANODAL closure c. Anodal-opening c. See AyovAi.-opening c. Breaking c. Ger., Oeffnungszuckung. The contraction which takes place in a muscle, through which a galvanic current is pa ing, at the moment of breaking the circuit. [B. 12.] Cathodal-closure c. See Cathodal-closure CLONUS. Cathodal-duration c. A contraction occurring at the cathode and persisting during the entire time of closure of the circuit. The same as cathodal-closure tetaO, no; O2, not; O3, whole; Th, thin; Th, the; U, like oo in too; [s. 385]