What term describes paralysis of the lower half of the body?

The term that describes paralysis of the lower half of the body is paraplegia. This condition typically results from an injury or condition affecting the spinal cord, which leads to the loss of sensation and movement in the legs and lower body. Paraplegia specifically contrasts with other medical terms related to paralysis; for example, paralysis is a general term that refers to the loss of muscle function in a part of the body, but it does not specify which part is affected. Paresis denotes partial paralysis or weakness, which does not encompass complete loss of function as seen in paraplegia. The term parasite refers to an organism that lives on or in another organism, drawing nutrients at the host’s expense, and is unrelated to the topic of paralysis. Thus, paraplegia is the precise term that identifies the condition of paralysis affecting only the lower half of the body.