Gross lack of coordination of muscles, such as a staggering gait, is called which condition?

• A. Aphagia
• B. Dysphagia
• C. Ataxia
• D. HA

Answer: (C)

Ataxia is the loss of coordinated muscle movements, which shows up as an unsteady, staggering gait and difficulties with precise actions. The cerebellum and related pathways normally fine-tune movement, so when they’re impaired, walking becomes wide-based and uncoordinated. That’s exactly what the description—gross lack of coordination of muscles, such as a staggering gait—illustrates.

Aphagia and dysphagia involve swallowing problems, not gait or limb coordination, and a headache (HA) is about head pain, not motor coordination. So ataxia best explains the symptom described.