all-or-none law

[ awl-er-nuhn ]
/ ˈɔl ərˈnʌn /

noun Physiology.

the principle that under given conditions the response of a nerve or muscle fiber to a stimulus at any strength above the threshold is the same: the muscle or nerve responds completely or not at all.

Origin of all-or-none law

First recorded in 1895–1900

Words nearby all-or-none law

all-in-one, all-inclusive, all-night, all-nighter, all-or-none, all-or-none law, all-or-nothing, all-ordinaries index, all-out, all-over, all-overs

Medical definitions for all-or-none law

all-or-none law

n.

The principle that the strength by which a nerve or muscle fiber responds to a stimulus is not dependent on the strength of the stimulus. If the stimulus is any strength above threshold, the nerve or muscle fiber will either give a complete response or no response at all.

Other words from all-or-none law

all′-or-none′ adj.