athetosis
|a-the-to-sis|
🇺🇸
/ˌæθɪˈtoʊsɪs/
🇬🇧
/ˌæθɪˈtəʊsɪs/
unfixed, writhing movement
Etymology
'athetosis' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'ἀθετωσις' (transliterated 'athetōsis'), where the prefix 'a-' meant 'not' and the root related to 'thetos' meant 'placed' or 'fixed'.
'athetosis' entered medical English from New Latin/Greek usage in the late 19th century as a technical term describing 'unfixed' or 'not-positioned' movements and became established in neurology to denote writhing involuntary movements.
Initially, it meant 'a state of not being fixed or placed,' but over time it evolved into its current medical meaning of 'involuntary writhing movements.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a neurological condition characterized by slow, involuntary, writhing movements, especially of the hands and feet; often associated with lesions of the basal ganglia and seen in some forms of cerebral palsy.
The patient exhibited athetosis in both hands, which made fine motor tasks difficult.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/11 05:12