tetanize
/ˈtɛtənaɪz/
verb
- To cause a muscle or group of muscles to undergo a sustained contraction (tetanus) due to rapid nerve stimulation.
- Certain toxins tetanize the jaw muscles, making it impossible to open the mouth.
- The electric current can tetanize the frog's leg muscle in the lab experiment.
- If you stimulate the nerve too quickly, you may tetanize the muscle instead of producing a single twitch.
Synonyms