paralysis
MUSCLE weakness or total loss of muscle movement, depending on the causal disease and its effect on the BRAIN . Various descriptive terms are used to qualify the parts of the body affected. Thus, hemiplegia affects one side of the body (see also DIPLEGIA , PARAPLEGIA , QUADRIPLEGIA ). Paralysis is really a symptom of another condition or disease, e.g. BRAIN disease such as a cerebral haemorrhage or THROMBOSIS causing hemiplegia; disease or injury of the SPINAL CORD leading to paraplegia; and POLIOMYELITIS (infantile paralysis). In addition, there is the paralysis associated with MOTOR-NEURONE DISEASE .
Paralysis is the loss of muscle function in part of your body. It happens when something goes wrong with the way messages pass between your brain and muscles. Paralysis can be complete or partial. It can occur on one or both sides of your body. It can also occur in just one area, or it can be widespread. Paralysis of the lower half of your body, including both legs, is called paraplegia. Paralysis of the arms and legs is quadriplegia.
Most paralysis is due to strokes or injuries such as spinal cord injury or a broken neck. Other causes of paralysis include:
- Nerve diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
- Autoimmune diseases such as Guillain-Barre syndrome
- Bell's palsy, which affects muscles in the face
Polio used to be a cause of paralysis, but polio no longer occurs in the U.S.
paralysis