Disease caused by tetanospasmin, a powerful protein toxin produced by clostridium tetani; tetanus usually occurs after an acute injury, such as a puncture wound or laceration; generalized tetanus, the most common form, is characterized by tetanic muscular contractions and hyperreflexia; localized tetanus presents itself as a mild condition with manifestations restricted to muscles near the wound.

Tetanus (from Ancient Greek τέτανος 'tension, stretched, rigid'), also known as lockjaw, is a bacterial infection caused by Clostridium tetani and characterized by muscle spasms. In the most common type, the spasms begin in the jaw and then progress to the rest of the body...