Ataxia

Ataxia itself simply means a loss of muscular coordination, unsteadiness, or abnormal levels of clumsiness. It is a conditional brain disorder. It was given the name Ataxia because those are its earliest of symptoms. As the disorder progresses, people with ataxia often lose the ability to walk, and can become disabled. Speech and sight can also be affected. Ataxia destroys both nerve and muscle cells.

A*tax"i*a (#), At"ax*y (#), n. [NL. ataxia, Gr. , fr. out of order; priv. + ordered, arranged, to put in order: cf. F. ataxie.]

1.

Disorder; irregularity.

Bp. Hall.

2. Med. (a)

Irregularity in disease, or in the functions.

The state of disorder that characterizes nervous fevers and the nervous condition.

Locomotor ataxia. See Locomotor.

© Webster 1913.