What is tonic-clonic?

Answer 1

This type of seizure many people think of when they hear the word epilepsy. Marked by loss of consciousness and stiffening and/or jerking of the muscles throughout the body, including arms and legs, these seizures are often referred to as grand mal seizures. The term tonic-clonic refers to certain kinds of body movements that appear during the seizures. Tonic means sudden stiffening of the limbs; clonic refers to rhythmic jerking.