HEMIPLEGIA

(Greek: "half stroke"), paralysis of one side of the body caused by injury to the corticospinal (pyramidal) tracts of the central nervous system. The corticospinal and associated motor tracts extend from the cerebral cortex to the lower end of the spinal cord, and their injury may be due to blood vessel disease, wounds, tumours, or abscesses. The location of the injury can usually be deduced from the particular body parts paralyzed and the other effects (e.g., speech defect) observed. See also paralysis.