Final answer:
An individual with quadriplegia has paralysis of all extremities, both arms and legs. This condition is due to spinal cord injuries, and it affects the ability to feel or move these parts of the body. Paraplegia differs as it leaves the arms and hands functional.
Step-by-step explanation:
An individual with quadriplegia has paralysis of all extremities; this includes both upper extremities (arms) and both lower extremities (legs). Quadriplegia is a type of paralysis that results from injuries to the spinal cord, affecting the arms, hands, trunk, legs, and pelvic organs. In contrast, paraplegia affects all or part of the trunk, legs, and pelvic organs but leaves the use of arms and hands intact.
Spinal cord injuries prevent the normal relay of messages between the brain and body, which can result in the loss of sensation and movement below the injury site. Factors like severity and location of the injury determine what parts of the body are affected by paralysis. Car crashes, sports injuries, and diving accidents are common causes of such injuries.
The symptoms of paralysis might evolve over time, as seen in historical cases, where an individual could experience a gradual onset leading to complete loss of function in the affected extremities.