Clinical Diagnosis · Nervous System · Hard

Athetosis

Meaning: Slow, continuous writhing movements, especially of the hands and fingers.

In practice: Often seen in cerebral palsy, these sinuous finger movements reflect basal ganglia dysfunction.

Word parts

  • -osis means an abnormal condition or process

Many medical words are built from Greek and Latin parts like these, so learning a few helps you work out new terms.

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Which word means: Thickening and scarring of connective tissue, often in the lungs or liver.

Which word means: A false sensation that oneself or the surroundings are spinning.

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