Definition of athetosis in English:
athetosis
noun ˌaθɪˈtəʊsɪsˌaTHəˈtōsəs
mass nounMedicine A condition in which abnormal muscle contraction causes involuntary writhing movements. It affects some people with cerebral palsy, impairing speech and use of the hands.
Example sentencesExamples
- Because of increased physical activity through involuntary movements, non-ambulatory children with athetosis are hyperactive and may have increased energy expenditure.
Derivatives
adjective
Medicine She has severe athetoid cerebral palsy arising from the circumstances of her birth.
Example sentencesExamples
- Without treatment, severe jaundice can pose a risk of permanent brain damage resulting in athetoid cerebral palsy.
- He gives the example of a girl with athetoid cerebral palsy with very little control over her limbs and who speaks through a specialist computer.
- Tardive dyskinesia is an involuntary movement disorder usually consisting of athetoid or choreic movements in the oro-facial region, but may affect any part of the body.
- It can cause athetoid cerebral palsy characterized by uncontrollable tremors or writhing movements of the limbs, body and face, hearing loss, problems with vision and teeth and, sometimes, mental retardation.
adjective
Medicine Descriptions of the predominant motor disorder refer to spastic, dystonic, athetotic, and ataxic features.
Example sentencesExamples
- The hallmark of the disorder is involuntary choreiform and athetotic movements, hence it is also known as Huntington's chorea.
- Kernicterus is not diagnosed until around 18 months when athetotic cerebral palsy, hearing loss, and loss of upward gaze can be paired with specific MRI findings and a history of severe jaundice.
Origin
Late 19th century: from Greek athetos 'without position' + -osis.