[ey-mahy-uh-trof-ik, -troh-fik, ey-mahy-uh-] 
| an incurable disease of unknown cause in which progressive degeneration of motor neurons in the brain stem and spinal cord leads to atrophy and eventually complete paralysis of the voluntary muscles. Abbreviation: ALS |
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis a·my·o·troph·ic lateral sclerosis (ā-mī'ə-trŏf'ĭk, -trō'fĭk)
n.
A disease of the motor tracts of the lateral columns and anterior horns of the spinal cord, causing progressive muscular atrophy, increased reflexes, fibrillary twitching, and spastic irritability of muscles. Also called Charcot's disease, Lou Gehrig's disease.
| amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ā'mī-ə-trō'fĭk, -ə-trŏf'ĭk, ā-mī'-) Pronunciation Key
A chronic, progressive neurologic disease marked by gradual degeneration of the neurons in the spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement. The disorder causes muscle weakness and atrophy and usually results in death. Also called Lou Gehrig's disease, after the American baseball player (1903-41) who was the first public figure to suffer from the disease. |
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