Paraplegia is a medical term that refers to the paralysis of the lower half of the body, often caused by spinal cord injuries or diseases affecting the nervous system.
To analyze the word:
- Prefix: The prefix para- means ‘beside’ or ‘abnormal’ when it refers to a bodily condition.
- Combining Form: The combining form pleg- comes from the Greek word plegis which means ‘stroke’ or ‘paralysis.’
- Suffix: The suffix -ia is used in medical terminology to indicate a condition or state.
Putting it all together, the word paraplegia literally translates to ‘abnormal paralysis,’ specifically referring to the loss of movement or sensation in the lower half of the body.
In terms of grammatical classification, paraplegia functions as a noun, describing the condition itself, whereas paraplegic would be the adjective form used to describe a person who is affected by this condition.