athetosis

[ath-i-toh-sis]

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.

athetosis

/ ˌæθəˈtəʊsɪs /

noun

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

Other Word Forms

• athetosic adjective
• athetotic adjective
• athetoid adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of athetosis¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of athetosis¹

C19: from Greek athetos not in place, from _a- ¹ + tithenai to place

Example Sentences

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

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Some degree of mental deficiency seems usually to accompany athetosis, even when uncomplicated by any other degenerating neurosis.

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The differential diagnosis of athetosis is generally easily made.

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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.

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