Ataxia

ataxia /atax·ia/ (ah-tak´se-ah) failure of muscular coordination; irregularity of muscular action.atac´ticatax´ic

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Bruns' frontal ataxia  a disturbance of equilibrium and gait due to a lesion in the frontal lobe, characterized by assumption of a broad-based gait with the feet flat on the ground and a tendency to retropulsion.

Friedreich's ataxia  hereditary sclerosis of the dorsal and lateral columns of the spine, usually beginning in childhood or youth; it is attended with ataxia, speech impairment, scoliosis, peculiar movements, paralysis, and often hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

locomotor ataxia  tabes dorsalis.

motor ataxia  inability to control the coordinate movements of the muscles.

sensory ataxia  ataxia due to loss of proprioception (joint position sensation) between the motor cortex and peripheral nerves, resulting in poorly judged movements, the incoordination becoming aggravated when the eyes are closed.

ataxia-telangiectasia  a severe autosomal recessive progressive cerebellar ataxia, associated with oculocutaneous telangiectasia, abnormal eye movements, sinopulmonary disease, and immunodeficiency.

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a·tax·i·a (-tks-) or a·tax·y (-tks)

n.

Loss of the ability to coordinate muscular movement. Also called dyssynergia, incoordination.

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Ataxia

The inability to control voluntary muscle movement, most frequently resulting from disorders in the brain or spinal cord.

Mentioned in: Adrenoleukodystrophy, Ataxia-Telangiectasia, Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy, Cerebral Palsy, Friedreich's Ataxia, Fugu Poisoning, Gulf War Syndrome

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ataxia (·taksˑ·ē·),

n postural imbalance and a staggering ambulatory style.

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ataxia (ātak´sē),

n a muscular incoordination characterized by irregular muscle activity.

ataxia, locomotor,

n See tabes dorsalis.

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ataxia

failure of muscular coordination; irregularity of muscular action.

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cerebellar ataxia

ataxia characterized by defects in rate, range, force and direction of movement of limbs. There is a broad based stance, inability to maintain the head in the proper position so that it oscillates, there is hypermetria or hypometria, direction cannot be maintained and the animal falls easily, often in an exaggerated way.

congenital ataxia

cerebellar ataxia due to viral infection of the fetus, e.g. bovine virus diarrhea and feline panleukopenia, or to inheritance, e.g. in cattle. See also cerebellar atrophy.

copper-related ataxia

see copper nutritional deficiency.

enzootic ataxia

see enzootic ataxia.

equine sensory ataxia

see enzootic equine incoordination.

familial convulsions and ataxia of cattle

see familial convulsions and ataxia of cattle.

feline ataxia

see feline panleukopenia.

foal ataxia

see enzootic equine incoordination.

frontal ataxia

disturbance of equilibrium occurring in cases of tumor of the frontal lobe.

hereditary ataxia

see hereditary ataxia.

hound ataxia

a degenerative myelopathy of Foxhounds, Harrier hounds and Beagles. Affected dogs show increasing hindleg incoordination. A dietary cause is suspected.

locomotor ataxia

tabes dorsalis.

otarid ataxia

a syndrome in pinnipeds caused by nutritional deficiency of thiamin or enterotoxemia or hypoglycemia. Signs include heelwalking (elevation and curling of the rear toes) followed by running staggers, ataxia and violent falling.

progressive ataxia

an inherited disease of cattle in which hind limb ataxia commences at 6 months to 3 years of age and worsens over 1 to 2 more years to the point of recumbency. It is a myelin disorder with eosinophilic plaques in the cerebellar medula and peduncles. Called also progressive sensory ataxia of Charolais cattle.

sensorimotor ataxia

caused by moderate spinal cord lesions, manifested by weakness of movement, scuffing of toes, incomplete limb extension, knuckling, wobbly gait, easy falling, difficult rising.

sensory ataxia

ataxia due to loss of proprioception (joint position sense), resulting in poorly judged movements and becoming aggravated when the eyes are blindfolded.

spinal ataxia

see equine protozoal myeloencephalitis.

vestibular ataxia

a loss of balance with preservation of strength. If unilateral, the abnormality is asymmetrical; if bilateral, it is symmetrical.