obtund

[Middle English obtunden, from Latin obtundere : ob-, against; see ob- + tundere, to beat.]

(ob-TUND)
verb tr.

To blunt, deaden, or dull.

[From Middle English, from Latin obtundere (to beat against), from ob- (against) + tundere (to beat). Other words derived from the same Latin root are pierce and contuse.]

Usage:

"Self-improvement books are narcotics in ink. They obtund with false promise." — Tom Tiede; Self-Help Nation; Atlantic Monthly Press; 2001.

"It seemed wise to attack when the better part of their foes, complacent with garrison duty, would be obtunded from holiday celebrations." — S.N. Dyer; Resolve and Resistance; Omni (New York); Apr 1, 1995.

To diminish the ability to perceive pain and/or touch.

To render dull or blunt.

Obtundation

ICD-9	780.09

Obtundation refers to less than full mental capacity in a medical patient, typically as a result of a medical condition or trauma. The root word, obtund, means "dulled or less sharp".

When a patient is first assessed, the medic, nurse or physician is checking to see if the person is "A&O times 4", which means alert and oriented with respect to identity, current location, current time and date, and what event led to the necessity for medical treatment.^[1] If the patient has any difficulty answering questions about these matter, the practitioner may say the patient is obtunded or "A&O times 2" and so on.

References

1. ^ "Glossary of Terms and Acronym Expansions". http://www.musc.edu/perfusion/glossary.htm. Retrieved 2009-03-29. 

v • d • e Symptoms and signs: cognition, perception, emotional state and behaviour (R40-R46, 780.0-780.5,781.1) Cognition Alteration of consciousness Confusion (Delirium) · Somnolence · Obtundation · Stupor · Unconsciousness (Syncope, Coma, Persistent vegetative state) Fainting/Syncope Carotid sinus syncope • Heat syncope • Vasovagal episode Other Amnesia (Anterograde amnesia, Retrograde amnesia) · Dizziness (Vertigo, Presyncope/Lightheadedness, Disequilibrium) · Convulsion Emotional state Anxiety · Irritability · Hostility · Suicidal ideation Behavior Verbosity Perception/ sensation disorder Olfaction : Anosmia · Hyposmia · Dysosmia · Parosmia · Hyperosmia Taste: Ageusia · Hypogeusia · Dysgeusia  · Parageusia · Hypergeusia Hallucination: Auditory hallucination psychology navs: mental processes, disorders, symptoms/signs, speech/voice, psychotherapy olfaction navs: anatomy, symptoms/signs taste navs: anatomy, symptoms/signs

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