Definition

Noun: - Absence of a reflex; a sign of possible nerve damage: Areflexia is a medical condition characterized by the lack or absence of normal reflex responses, such as the knee-jerk reaction. This is typically a clinical sign indicating potential dysfunction or damage within the nervous system.

Usage

• Areflexia is used as a medical term, primarily in clinical and diagnostic contexts to describe a specific neurological finding.
• It is often discussed in relation to specific conditions, such as Guillain-Barré syndrome, spinal cord injuries, or other neuropathies.

Examples

• The patient's areflexia in the lower limbs was a key finding in the neurological examination.
• Persistent areflexia can be an indicator of significant peripheral nerve damage.
• The doctor noted the areflexia and ordered further tests to determine the cause.

Advanced Usage

• "Generalized areflexia": Refers to the absence of reflexes throughout the entire body, often associated with severe neurological conditions.
• "Segmental areflexia": Describes the absence of reflexes in a specific region or segment of the body, which can help localize the site of nerve damage.

Variants and Related Words

• Reflex (n): An automatic and involuntary response to a stimulus.
• Hyporeflexia (n): A condition of diminished or below-normal reflex responses, which is less severe than complete areflexia.
• Hyperreflexia (n): A condition of overactive or exaggerated reflex responses.

Synonyms

• Absent reflexes: A more descriptive, non-technical phrase for areflexia.
• Reflex loss: Another descriptive term indicating the absence of reflex activity.

Antonyms

• Normoreflexia (n): The presence of normal reflex responses.
• Hyperreflexia (n): Exaggerated reflex responses.

Noun

1. absence of a reflex; a sign of possible nerve damage