amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

[ ey-mahy-uh-trof-ik, -troh-fik, ey-mahy-uh- ]

/ ˌeɪ maɪ əˈtrɒf ɪk, -ˈtroʊ fɪk, eɪˌmaɪ ə- /

noun Pathology.

an incurable disease of unknown cause in which progressive degeneration of motor neurons in the brain stem and spinal cord leads to atrophy and eventually complete paralysis of the voluntary muscles. Abbreviation: ALS

Nearby words

amyosthenia, amyotaxy, amyotonia, amyotonia congenita, amyotrophia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, amyotrophy, amyous, amytal, amythaon, amyxia

Origin of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

First recorded in 1885–90; a-⁶ + myo- + -trophic

Also called Lou Gehrig's disease.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

/ (ˌæmɪəʊˈtrəʊfɪk) /

noun

a form of motor neurone disease in which degeneration of motor tracts in the spinal cord causes progressive muscular paralysis starting in the limbsAlso called: Lou Gehrig's disease

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medicine definitions for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

[ ā-mī′ə-trŏf′ĭk, -trō′fĭk ]

n.

A disease of the motor tracts of the lateral columns and anterior horns of the spinal cord, causing progressive muscular atrophy, increased reflexes, fibrillary twitching, and spastic irritability of muscles.Charcot's disease Lou Gehrig's disease

Science definitions for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

[ ā′mī-ə-trō′fĭk, -ə-trŏf′ĭk, ā-mī′- ]

A chronic, progressive neurologic disease marked by gradual degeneration of the neurons in the spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement. The disorder causes muscle weakness and atrophy and usually results in death. Also called Lou Gehrig's disease, after the American baseball player (1903-41) who was the first public figure to suffer from the disease.