Abnormal posturing
Abnormal posturing is a term used in medicine to describe involuntary flexion or extension of the arms and legs, indicating severe brain injury. It is also known as decerebrate posturing or decorticate posturing.
Pronunciation
Abnormal posturing: /æbˈnɔːrməl ˈpɒstʃərɪŋ/
Etymology
The term "abnormal" originates from the Latin word "abnormis" which means "away from the norm". "Posturing" comes from the Latin word "ponere" which means "to place".
Description
Abnormal posturing is a sign of serious neurological damage, usually caused by conditions such as trauma, stroke, encephalitis, and brain tumor. It is characterized by abnormal positions and movements of the limbs or trunk. There are two types of abnormal posturing: decerebrate posturing and decorticate posturing.
Decerebrate posturing
Decerebrate posturing is characterized by rigid extension of the arms and legs, downward pointing of the toes, and backward arching of the head and neck. It is usually a sign of severe damage in the brainstem.
Decorticate posturing
Decorticate posturing is characterized by flexion of the arms, clenched fists, and extended legs. It is usually a sign of severe damage in the cerebral hemispheres, internal capsule, thalamus, or midbrain.
Related terms
See also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Abnormal posturing
- Wikipedia's article - Abnormal posturing
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