Knowra Hemiplegia Hemiplegia Hemiplegia is paralysis affecting one side of the body, usually caused by damage to the brain or spinal cord. It can involve the face, arm, and leg on that side.
Corticospinal tract : A descending pathway that carries motor commands from the cerebral cortex to the spinal cord. Damage above its crossing in the brain often weakens the opposite side of the body.
Stroke : Brain injury caused by interrupted blood flow or bleeding within the brain. A stroke is a leading cause of sudden hemiplegia.
Neurological examination : A clinical assessment of nervous-system function, including strength, sensation, reflexes, and coordination. It maps which body regions are affected and helps localize the lesion.
Hemiparesis : Weakness affecting one side of the body without complete paralysis. It describes the milder, incomplete motor impairment often confused with hemiplegia.
Motor cortex : Regions of the frontal lobe that plan and execute voluntary movement. A lesion here can disrupt movement in the opposite side of the face, arm, and leg.
Cerebral palsy : A group of permanent movement and posture disorders caused by early brain development or injury. A unilateral form can produce lifelong weakness or paralysis on one side.
Medical imaging : Techniques that create images of internal structures for diagnosis and treatment. Brain imaging can identify stroke, bleeding, tumors, or other causes of hemiplegia.
Paraplegia : Paralysis affecting both legs, with or without impairment of the trunk. Its distribution is mainly below the waist, unlike hemiplegia's one-sided pattern.
Decussation of the pyramids : The crossing of most corticospinal nerve fibers in the lower medulla. This crossing helps explain why one brain hemisphere controls the opposite body side.
Traumatic brain injury : Brain dysfunction caused by an external mechanical force. Injury to motor regions or pathways can leave one side paralyzed.
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