Athetesis – Definition & Meaning

Athetesis is a term that is not commonly used in everyday language, but it is an important term in the medical field. It is a term used to describe a type of involuntary movement disorder that affects the limbs, head, or neck. Athetesis can be caused by a variety of factors, including brain damage, genetic disorders, or certain medications. In this article, we will explore the definition and meaning of athetesis in more detail.

Definitions

Athetesis is defined as a type of involuntary movement disorder that is characterized by slow, writhing movements of the limbs, head, or neck. These movements are often irregular and unpredictable, and can be difficult to control. Athetesis can occur on its own, or it can be a symptom of another underlying condition.

Origin

The term athetesis comes from the Greek word “athetos,” which means “not fixed” or “not in place.” It was first used in the medical field in the early 20th century to describe a type of involuntary movement disorder that was not well understood at the time.

Meaning in different dictionaries

Athetesis is not a term that is commonly found in mainstream dictionaries. However, it is included in medical dictionaries, where it is defined as a type of involuntary movement disorder.

Associations

Athetesis is often associated with conditions that affect the brain, such as cerebral palsy, Huntington’s disease, or Parkinson’s disease. It can also be caused by certain medications, such as antipsychotics or antidepressants.

Synonyms

There are several synonyms for athetesis, including choreoathetosis, athetoid movements, and athetoid cerebral palsy.

Antonyms

There are no true antonyms for athetesis, as it is a specific medical term that describes a particular type of movement disorder.

The same root words

There are no other common words that share the same root as athetesis.

Example Sentences

1. The patient exhibited athetesis in his left arm, which was likely caused by a stroke.
2. Athetesis is a common symptom of Huntington’s disease.
3. The medication caused the patient to experience athetoid movements, which were distressing to him.
4. The child’s athetoid cerebral palsy made it difficult for him to control his movements.
5. The doctor prescribed a medication to help control the patient’s athetesis.