Final answer:
Paralysis refers to the loss or impairment of voluntary movement in parts of the body, often due to spinal cord injuries, resulting in conditions like paraplegia, hemiplegia, or quadriplegia.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term for loss or impairment of the ability to move parts of the body is paralysis. This condition occurs when there is an interruption in the communication between the brain and the parts of the body, which can be caused by spinal cord injuries or lesions in the lower motor neurons (LMN). If the whole spinal cord is injured, it may result in paraplegia, which is the paralysis of the lower half of the body, including the legs and possibly the trunk. In contrast, hemisection of the spinal cord can cause hemiplegia, leading to paralysis on one side of the body. Moreover, when all four limbs and the trunk are affected, it is known as quadriplegia.