multiple sclerosis

noun Pathology.

a chronic degenerative, often episodic disease of the central nervous system marked by patchy destruction of the myelin that surrounds and insulates nerve fibers, usually appearing in young adulthood and manifested by one or more mild to severe neural and muscular impairments, as spastic weakness in one or more limbs, local sensory losses, bladder dysfunction, or visual disturbances.

Origin of multiple sclerosis

First recorded in 1880–85

Words nearby multiple sclerosis

multiple neurofibroma, multiple personality, multiple pregnancy, multiple puncture tuberculin test, multiple reentry vehicle, multiple sclerosis, multiple shop, multiple stain, multiple star, multiple store, multiple symmetric lipomatosis

British Dictionary definitions for multiple sclerosis

multiple sclerosis

noun

a chronic progressive disease of the central nervous system characterized by loss of some of the myelin sheath surrounding certain nerve fibres and resulting in speech and visual disorders, tremor, muscular incoordination, partial paralysis, etc Also called: disseminated sclerosis

Medical definitions for multiple sclerosis

multiple sclerosis

n.

A chronic degenerative disease of the central nervous system in which gradual destruction of myelin occurs in patches throughout the brain or spinal cord or both, interfering with the nerve pathways and causing muscular weakness, loss of coordination, and speech and visual disturbances. It occurs chiefly in young adults and is thought to be caused by a defect in the immune system that may be of genetic or viral origin.

Scientific definitions for multiple sclerosis

multiple sclerosis
[ sklə-rō′sĭs ]

A chronic degenerative disease of the central nervous system in which gradual destruction of myelin occurs in the brain or spinal cord or both, interfering with the nerve pathways and causing muscular weakness, loss of coordination, and speech and visual disturbances. It occurs chiefly in young adults and is thought to be caused by a defect in the immune system that may be of genetic or viral origin.

Cultural definitions for multiple sclerosis

multiple sclerosis
[ (skluh-roh-sis) ]

A chronic disease of the central nervous system characterized by the hardening of patches of tissue in the brain and spinal cord. The cause of this disease has to do with damage to the sheathes of nerves, and there is no specific treatment. It occurs in varying degrees of severity and, in the worst case, can result in permanent paralysis.