Relaxant

Relaxant
Something that relaxes, relieves, reduces tension. For example, a muscle relaxant is often administered during abdominal surgery to relax the diaphragm and keep it from moving during the surgery.
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1. Relaxing; causing relaxation; reducing tension, especially muscular tension. 2. An agent that reduces muscular tension or produces skeletal muscle paralysis, usually referred to as a muscle r..
- depolarizing r. an agent, e.g., succinylcholine, that induces depolarization of the motor endplate and so paralyzes skeletal muscle by a phase I block.
- muscle r. a drug with the capacity to reduce muscle tone; may be either a peripherally acting muscle r. such as curare and act to produce blockade at the neuromuscular junction (and thus useful in surgery), or act as a centrally acting muscle r. exerting its effects within the brain and spinal cord to diminish muscle tone (and thus useful in muscle spasm or spasticity).
- neuromuscular r. an agent, e.g., curare or succinylcholine, that produces relaxation of striated muscle by interruption of transmission of nervous impulses at the myoneural junction.
- nondepolarizing r. an agent, e.g., tubocurarine, that paralyzes skeletal muscle without depolarization of the motor endplate, as in phase II block.
- smooth muscle r. an agent, such as an antispasmodic, bronchodilator, or vasodilator, that reduces the tension or tone of smooth (involuntary) muscle.

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re·lax·ant ri-'lak-sənt adj of, relating to, or producing relaxation <an anesthetic and \relaxant agent>
relaxant n a substance (as a drug) that relaxes specif one that relieves muscular tension

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n.
an agent that reduces tension and strain, particularly in muscles (see muscle relaxant).

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re·lax·ant (re-lakґsənt) [L. relaxare to loosen] 1. lessening or reducing tension. 2. an agent that lessens tension.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • relaxant — relaxant, ante [ r(ə)laksɑ̃, ɑ̃t ] adj. et n. m. • mil. XXe; de relaxer ♦ Qui favorise la relaxation, la détente. Médicament relaxant, ou n. m. un relaxant. ⇒ anxiolytique. Une ambiance relaxante. ● relaxant, relaxante adjectif Qui relaxe,… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • relaxant — RELAXÁNT, Ă, relaxanţi, te, adj., s.n. (Substanţă, medicament, factor etc.) Care relaxează, destinde. – Relaxa + suf. ant. Trimis de dante, 13.09.2007. Sursa: DEX 98  RELAXÁNT adj. odihnitor, reconfortant, recreativ, (rar) recreator. (Un… …   Dicționar Român

  • relaxant — [ri lak′sənt] adj. of, pertaining to, or causing relaxation, esp. reduction of muscular tension n. a relaxant drug or agent …   English World dictionary

  • Relaxant — Re*lax ant (r? l?ks ant), n. [L. relaxans, p. pr. of relaxare.] (Med.) A medicine that relaxes; a laxative. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • relaxant — ► NOUN ▪ a drug or other thing that promotes relaxation or reduces tension. ► ADJECTIVE ▪ causing relaxation …   English terms dictionary

  • relaxant — n. a muscle relaxant * * * [rɪ læksənt] a muscle relaxant …   Combinatory dictionary

  • relaxant — UK [rɪˈlæksənt] / US noun [countable] Word forms relaxant : singular relaxant plural relaxants something, especially a drug, that relaxes you …   English dictionary

  • relaxant — I. adjective Date: 1771 of, relating to, or producing relaxation < an anesthetic and relaxant agent > II. noun Date: circa 1847 a substance (as a drug) that relaxes; specifically one that relieves muscular tension …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • relaxant — /ri lak seuhnt/, adj. 1. of, pertaining to, or causing a relaxation. n. 2. Pharm. a drug that relaxes, esp. one that lessens strain in muscle. [1765 75; < L relaxant (s. of relaxans), prp. of relaxare. See RELAX, ANT] * * * …   Universalium

  • relaxant — n. an agent that reduces tension and strain, particularly in muscles (see muscle relaxant) …   The new mediacal dictionary

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