Chvos·tek's sign (kə-).vȯs-.tek(s)- or Chvos·tek sign (kə-).vȯs-.tek- n a twitch of the facial muscles following gentle tapping over the facial nerve in front of the ear that indicates hyperirritability of the facial nerve
Chvos·tek 'kvȯs-.tek Franz (1835-1884)
Austrian surgeon. Chvostek was a military doctor and professor at a military medical school in Vienna. In 1876 he published an article in which he announced his discovery that in a patient with tetany, tapping the optic nerve in front of the ear produces a spasm of the cheek muscles. This sign of tetany now bears his name.
Medical dictionary. 2011.