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Title: Understanding Dysmetria and Ataxia

Category: Neurology

Keywords: dysmetria, ataxia, cerebellum (PubMed Search)

Posted: 1/12/2011 by Aisha Liferidge, MD

  • Using the neurological examination to test coordination primarily assesses cerebellar function.
  • The cerebellum is important for motor learning and timing of motor activity.  It fine-tunes agonist and antagonistic forces of muscle activity, simultaneously and sequentially, across multiple joints which results in smooth and purposeful movements.
  • Cerebellar dysfunction causes deterioration of movements, with subsequent under-shooting and over-shooting of purposeful movement, also known as dysmetria.
  • Deterioration of movement and dysmetria are precursors to the development of ataxia.

           

References



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