pleurothotonos /plo͝or′əthot″ənəs/ [Gk, pleurothen, side of the body, tonos, tension] , an involuntary, severe, prolonged contraction of the muscles of one side of the body, resulting in an acute arch to that side. It is usually associated with tetanus infection or strychnine poisoning. Compare emprosthotonos, opisthotonos, orthotonos.
