amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

a·my·o·tro·phic lateral sclerosis  (m--trfk, -trfk, -m-)

n. Abbr. ALS

A chronic, progressive disease marked by gradual degeneration of the nerve cells in the central nervous system that control voluntary muscle movement. The disorder causes muscle weakness and atrophy and usually results in death. Also called Lou Gehrig's disease.

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amyotrophic lateral sclerosis  (m--trfk, --trfk, -m-)

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.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis - thickening of tissue in the motor tracts of the lateral columns and anterior horns of the spinal cord; results in progressive muscle atrophy that starts in the limbs ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease nervous disorder, neurological disease, neurological disorder - a disorder of the nervous system induration, sclerosis - any pathological hardening or thickening of tissue