ataxia

ataxia , lack of coordination of the voluntary muscles resulting in irregular movements of the body. Ataxia can be brought on by an injury, infection, or degenerative disease of the central nervous system, e.g., syphilis, encephalitis, brain tumor, or multiple sclerosis. The term also designates a specific type of cerebral palsy .

ataxia In medicine, condition where muscles are uncoordinated. It results in clumsiness, irregular and uncontrolled movements, and difficulties with speech. It may be caused by physical injury to the brain or nervous system, by a stroke, or by disease.

ataxia (ă-taks-iă) n. the shaky movements and unsteady gait that result from the brain's failure to regulate the body's posture and the strength and direction of limb movements. cerebellar a. a condition, due to disease of the cerebellum, in which the patient staggers when walking, cannot pronounce words properly, and may have nystagmus. Friedreich's a. an inherited disorder appearing first in adolescence. It has the features of cerebellar ataxia, together with spasticity of the limbs. sensory a. ataxia caused by disease of the sensory nerves, which is exaggerated when the patient closes his eyes (see Romberg's sign). See also ataxia telangiectasia, tabes dorsalis (locomotor ataxia).
—ataxic adj.