noun
- A change in the excitability of a nerve or muscle fiber caused by the passage of an electric current through it.
Usage: physiology; technical
Examples
- The researcher observed electrotonus in the nerve tissue when a steady electric current was applied.
- Electrotonus affects how readily a nerve fiber will fire an action potential.
- The phenomenon of electrotonus was first described in the 19th century during early electrophysiology studies.
- Understanding electrotonus is essential for studying nerve conduction and electrical stimulation of tissues.