contraction

Noun
  1. referred to in: physiology - the branch of the biological sciences dealing with the functioning of organisms
    is a type of: shortening - act of decreasing in length
    subtypes:
    • contracture - an abnormal and usually permanent contraction of a muscle
    • tetanus - a sustained muscular contraction resulting from a rapid series of nerve impulses
    • uterine contraction - a rhythmic tightening in labor of the upper uterine musculature that contracts the size of the uterus and pushes the fetus toward the birth canal
    • braxton-hicks contraction, false labor - painless contractions of the muscles of the uterus that continue throughout pregnancy with increasing frequency
    • vaginismus - muscular contraction that causes the vagina to close; usually an anxiety reaction before coitus or pelvic examination
    same as: muscle contraction, muscular contraction
  2. is a type of: shrinkage, shrinking - process or result of becoming less or smaller
    subtypes: coarctation, constriction - tight or narrow compression
    same as: compression, condensation
  3. is a type of: word - a unit of language that native speakers can identify
  4. is a type of: decrease, diminution, reduction, step-down - the act of decreasing or reducing something

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