Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) is the name for a group of inherited disorders of nerve conduction causing weakness and mild loss of sensation in the limbs.

CMT affects the peripheral nerves, those groups of nerve cells carrying information to and from the spinal cord. CMT decreases the ability of these nerves to carry motor commands to muscles, especially those furthest from the spinal cord in the feet and hands. As a result, these muscles are weakened. CMT also causes mild sensory loss.

CMT is named for the three neurologists who first described it, and does not involve the teeth in any way. It is also known as hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy, and is also sometimes called peroneal muscular atrophy, referring to the muscles in the leg affected early on in the disease.

The symptoms grouped together under the name CMT can be caused by any of...