athetosis

American  

[ath-i-toh-sis] / ˌæθ ɪˈtoʊ sɪs /

noun

Pathology.

1. a condition, chiefly in children, of slow, involuntary, wormlike movements of the fingers, toes, hands, and feet, usually resulting from a brain lesion.

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athetosis British  

/ ˌæθəˈtəʊsɪs /

noun

1. pathol a condition characterized by uncontrolled rhythmic writhing movement, esp of fingers, hands, head, and tongue, caused by cerebral lesion

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Other Word Forms

• athetoid adjective
• athetosic adjective
• athetotic adjective

Etymology

Origin of athetosis

1870–75; < Greek áthet ( os ) not placed ( a- a- ⁶ + thetós, equivalent to the- (stem of tithénai to set, put) + -tos verbid suffix) + -osis

Example Sentences

So-called post-hemiplegic chorea is, in the opinion of both Hammond and Gray, simply athetosis.

From Anomalies and Curiosities of Medicine by Pyle, Walter L. (Walter Lytle)

The differential diagnosis of athetosis is generally easily made.

From Anomalies and Curiosities of Medicine by Pyle, Walter L. (Walter Lytle)

The silly, dancing, posturing, wiry movements, and the facial distortion observed in Huntington's chorea would hardly be mistaken by a careful observer for athetosis.

From Anomalies and Curiosities of Medicine by Pyle, Walter L. (Walter Lytle)

More unusual is the rhythmical closing and opening of the hand, successively, of athetosis.

From A System of Practical Medicine by American Authors, Vol. I Volume 1: Pathology and General Diseases by Various