akinesia

views updated

akinesia (ak-in-ee-ziă) n. a loss of normal muscular tonicity or responsiveness. akinetic epilepsy a form of epilepsy in which there is a sudden loss of muscular tonicity, making the patient fall with momentary loss of consciousness. akinetic mutism a state of complete physical unresponsiveness although the patient's eyes remain open and appear to follow movements. It is a consequence of damage to the brainstem. akinetic rigid syndrome a condition, such as parkinsonism or progressive supranuclear palsy, characterized by akinesia.
akinetic (a-kin-et-ik) adj.

More From encyclopedia.com