asterixis

1 9.9

A sudden, brief flapping movement of the hands when the arms are held out

noun
/ˌæstəˈrɪksɪs/

Specialized

: asterixis

The doctor noticed asterixis when the patient held out his hands.

Examples

Doctors often look for asterixis in patients with liver disease.
The patient exhibited asterixis during the examination.
Liver disease can sometimes cause asterixis in affected individuals.
The presence of asterixis helped the neurologist diagnose the underlying condition.
The doctor observed asterixis in the patient, who had his arms outstretched and his hands flapping uncontrollably.
During the examination, the neurologist noted that asterixis was apparent when the patient attempted to hold a steady position.
The presence of asterixis indicated a possible underlying liver issue as the patient's hands moved erratically.

Antonyms

control

∞ 2.8

Ability to direct your body or its parts so they move as you want

Surface Forms

asterixis singular

asterixes plural

Etymology

Asterixis sounds like asterisk ('little star'), so a helpful way to remember it is to imagine a tiny star that suddenly flaps or moves. So, asterixis means a short, sudden loss of muscle control that shows as a flapping movement of the hands.