Tags: Disease.
Paraplegia is an impairment in motor or sensory function of the lower extremities. The word comes from Ionic Greek: παραπληγίη half-striking. It is usually caused by spinal cord injury or a congenital condition such as spina bifida that affects the neural elements of the spinal canal. The area of the spinal canal that is affected in paraplegia is either the thoracic lumbar or sacral regions. If all four limbs are affected by paralysis tetraplegia is the proper terminology.