1. A series of involuntary muscle contractions and relaxations, typically occurring in response to a sudden stretch or stimulus, often seen in neurological disorders.
Usage: Medical/clinical term; Often used in neurology and physical examination contexts

Examples

• The neurologist tested for clonus by tapping the patient's patellar tendon.
• Clonus in the ankle can indicate an upper motor neuron lesion.
• The patient exhibited sustained clonus lasting several seconds after the reflex test.
• Clonus is sometimes observed in patients with spinal cord injuries.
• The presence of clonus helped confirm the diagnosis of hyperreflexia.