ataxia

ataxia
ataxic, adj.
/euh tak"see euh/, n. Pathol.
loss of coordination of the muscles, esp. of the extremities.
Also, ataxy /euh tak"see, a tak"-/. Cf. tabes dorsalis.
[1605-15; < NL < Gk: indiscipline, equiv. to a- A-6 + táx(is) -TAXIS + -ia -IA]

* * *

Inability to coordinate voluntary muscular movements.

In common usage, the term describes an unsteady gait. Hereditary ataxias are usually caused by degeneration of the spinal cord, cerebellum, or other parts of the nervous system. The most common is Friedreich ataxia, which begins at ages 3–5, progressing slowly to almost complete incapacity by age 20. There is no specific therapy. Metabolic disorders, brain injuries, and toxins can cause ataxia.

* * *

      inability to coordinate voluntary muscular movements. In common usage, the term describes an unsteady gait.

      Most hereditary ataxias of neurological origin are caused by degeneration of the spinal cord and cerebellum; other parts of the nervous system are also frequently involved. The most common of these is Friedreich ataxia, named after the German neurologist Nicholaus Friedreich. During the first three to five years of life, only a few physical deformities (e.g., hammertoe) may be present. During adolescence, the gait becomes progressively unsteady—frequently interpreted as clumsiness. The unsteadiness further progresses to a broad-based, lurching gait; sudden turns are extremely difficult without falling. Tremors develop in the upper extremities and in the head. Speech is slow, slurred, and monotonous. Skeletal deformities and muscle weakness are common.

      Although the course of the disease is slow, it is progressive. Spontaneous remissions occur rarely, and there is usually almost complete incapacity by age 20. There is no specific therapy, and death is usually the result of another complicating disease or heart failure.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Ataxia — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Ataxia Clasificación y recursos externos CIE 10 R27.0 CIE 9 781.3 MeSH D001259 La ataxia (del …   Wikipedia Español

  • ataxia — f. neurol. Trastorno del movimiento voluntario sin pérdida de fuerza pero con una incapacidad para coordinar los músculos. Las causas son muy diversas y pueden afectar a cualquiera de los mecanismos que intervienen en dichos movimientos; los más… …   Diccionario médico

  • Ataxia — A*tax i*a, Ataxy At ax*y, n. [NL. ataxia, Gr. ?, fr. ? out of order; a priv. + ? ordered, arranged, ? to put in order: cf. F. ataxie.] 1. Disorder; irregularity. [Obs.] Bp. Hall. [1913 Webster] 2. (Med.) (a) Irregularity in disease, or in the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Ataxia — Pays d’origine  États Unis Genre musical Rock indépendant Rock expérimental Années d activité …   Wikipédia en Français

  • ataxia — also anglicized as ataxy, irregularity of bodily functions, 1610s, confusion, disorder, medical Latin, from Gk. ataxia, from a , privative prefix, + taxis arrangement, order, from stem of tassein to arrange (see TACTICS (Cf. tactics)).… …   Etymology dictionary

  • ataxia — (Del gr. ἀταξία). f. Med. Desorden, irregularidad, perturbación de las funciones del sistema nervioso. ataxia locomotriz. f. La que afecta a los movimientos voluntarios, como en la tabes dorsal …   Diccionario de la lengua española

  • Ataxia — Allgemeine Informationen Genre(s) Rock Gründung 2004 Aktuelle Besetzung …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • ataxia — |cs| s. f. 1. Incoordenação patológica dos movimentos do corpo. 2. Desordem nos fenômenos psicológicos …   Dicionário da Língua Portuguesa

  • ataxia — UK [əˈtæksɪə] / US or ataxy UK [əˈtæksɪ] / US noun [uncountable] medical the loss of the ability to control the movements your body makes Derived word: ataxic UK [əˈtæksɪk] / US adjective …   English dictionary

  • ataxia — [ə tak′sē ə] n. [Gr, disorder < ataktos, disorderly < a , not + taktos < tassein, arrange: see TACTICS] total or partial inability to coordinate voluntary bodily movements, as in walking ataxic adj., n …   English World dictionary

  • Ataxia — For other uses, see Ataxia (disambiguation). Ataxia (from Greek α [used as a negative prefix] + τάξις [order], meaning lack of order ) is a neurological sign and symptom that consists of gross lack of coordination of muscle movements. Ataxia is a …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”