Friedreich's ataxia: an autosomal recessive disease, usually beginning in childhood or youth, with sclerosis of the dorsal and lateral columns of the spinal cord. It is attended by ataxia [failure of muscular coordination; irregularity of muscular action], speech impairment, lateral curvature of the spinal column, and peculiar swaying and irregular movements, with paralysis of the muscles, especially of the lower extremities. It is often associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Called also hereditary ataxia, family ataxia, and Friedreich's tabes.
Multiple sclerosis: a disease in which there are patches of demyelination throughout the white matter of the central nervous system, sometimes extending into the gray matter. Typically, the symptoms of lesions of the white matter are weakness, incoordination, paresthesias, speech disturbances, and visual complaints. The course of the disease is usually prolonged, with remissions and relapses over a period of many years. Sclerosis: an induration, or hardening; especially hardening of a part from inflammation and in diseases of the interstitial substances. The term is used chiefly for such a hardening of the nervous system due to hyperplasia of the connective tissue or to designate hardening of the blood vessels.
Muscular dystrophy: a group of genetic degenerative myopathies characterized by weakness and atrophy of muscle without involvement of the nervous system. There are three main types: pseudohypertrophic muscular dystrophy, facioscapulohumeral dystrophy, and limb-girdle muscular dystrophy. Dystrophy: any disorder arising from defective or faulty nutrition.
Parkinson's disease, facies (sign): see parkinsonism: a group of neurological disorders characterized by hypokinesia, tremor, and muscular rigidity.
Sydenham's chorea: an acute, usually self-limited disorder of early life, usually between the ages of five and fifteen, or during pregnancy, and closely linked with rheumatic fever. It is characterized by involuntary movements that gradually become severe, affecting all motor activities including gait, arm movements, and speech. A mild psychic component is usually present. The disorder may be limited to one side of the body (hemichorea) or may take the form of muscular rigidity (Paralytic chorea). Called also St. Vitus' dance. Chorea: the ceaseless occurrence of a wide variety of rapid, highly complex, jerky movements that appear to be well coordinated but are performed involuntarily.
Dorland's Illustrated medical dictionary. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Co., 1988.
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