Muscle tone. Definition. noun. (1) The muscle in a steady partially contracted state caused by the successive flow of nerve impulses. (2) The amount of tension or resistance to movement in a muscle. Supplement. Muscle tone or tonus helps in maintaining body posture.
Hydronephrosis is the distention of the pelvis and calyces of one or both kidneys, resulting in thinning of the renal tubules because of obstructed urinary flow. When the obstruction is a stone or kink in one of the ureters, only one kidney is damaged.
Distention: The state of being distended, enlarged, swollen from internal pressure. For example, on inhalation there is distention of the lungs due to the increased air pressure within the lungs. The word distention comes from a Latin root tendere, to extend. The word tendon comes from the same root. Search MedTerms: