Clinical Diagnosis · Nervous System · Easy
Paraplegia
Meaning: Paralysis of both legs and usually the lower trunk, typically caused by spinal cord injury below the neck.
In practice: After the fall from scaffolding he was left with paraplegia from a thoracic cord injury.
Word parts
- para- means beside or near
- -plegia means paralysis
Many medical words are built from Greek and Latin parts like these, so learning a few helps you work out new terms.
Quick check
Two questions on related clinical diagnosis words.
Which word means: Abnormally slow or difficult labour, often due to problems with the baby, pelvis or contractions.
Answer: Dystocia
Which word means: Inflammation of the gland in the neck that regulates metabolism, which can cause over- or underactivity.
Answer: Thyroiditis
Words like paraplegia come up in the daily game
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