The state or quality of being irritable; quick excitability; petulance; fretfulness; as, irritability of temper.

A natural susceptibility, characteristic of all living organisms, tissues, and cells, to the influence of certain stimuli, response being manifested in a variety of ways, -- as that quality in plants by which they exhibit motion under suitable stimulation; esp., the property which living muscle possesses, of responding either to a direct stimulus of its substance, or to the stimulating influence of its nerve fibers, the response being indicated by a change of form, or contraction; contractility.

A condition of morbid excitability of an organ or part of the body; undue susceptibility to the influence of stimuli. See Irritation, n., 3.

Irritability is an irregularly updated webcomic by Mike E. Woodson. Originally appearing in The Daily Texan (the University of Texas at Austin student newspaper), it now appears on his website.

Represented by the amount of activity necessary to worsen the condition, the extent of the exacerbation and the duration of the response. Based on a movement rather than a static posture, as this would give an idea of the amount of activity necessary to worsen the conditon. This has implications for the amount of assessment and treatment provided to the patient.

the amount of activity necessary to worsen a condition.

Often associated with mania or an equivalent of mania in which there is increased reactivity and agitation. Back to the top

excessive sensitivity of an organ or body part