Which term describes paralysis on one side of the body?

• A. Hemiplegia
• B. Seizure
• C. Hemiparesis
• D. Aphasia

Answer: (A)

Paralysis on one side is described by a term that means complete loss of voluntary movement on that side. This happens when motor pathways in the brain or upper spinal cord are damaged, and because these pathways cross to the opposite side, a lesion in one hemisphere typically causes paralysis on the opposite side of the body. That full loss of movement on one side is called hemiplegia.

Hemiparesis would be weakness on one side rather than full paralysis, so it isn’t the correct description here. Aphasia refers to language difficulties caused by damage to language centers, not motor paralysis. Seizures are episodes of abnormal brain electrical activity and may include convulsions, but they are not a term for unilateral paralysis.