rigidity

(rij-id’it-e) [L. rigid’ites; rig’idus stiff). tiffne or inflexibility, chiefly that which is ab- normal or morbid. anatomic r., rigidity of the cervix uteri in labor, without pathologic condition of the cervix, so that it dilates to only a limited extent, beyond which uterine contractions are of no avail. cadaveric r., rigor mort is. cerebellar r., stiffne of the body and limbs, due to a lesion of the middle lobe of the cerebellum. clasp-knife r., spastic extension of the leg with a motion like that of a clasp-knife. decerebrate r., rigidity due to removal! of the cerebrum. hemiplegic r., rigidity of the paralyzed limbs in hemiplegia. pathologic r., rigidity of the cervix uteri in labor from some disease. postmortem r., rigor mort is. spasmodic r., rigidity of the cervix uteri, due to spasmodic contraction.