Final answer:
The term for paralysis of one side of the body is hemiplegia, occurring from situations like a hemisection of the spinal cord, contrasting with hemiparesis, which is weakness rather than complete paralysis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The word that means a condition involving paralysis of one side of the body is hemiplegia. In cases of spinal cord injuries, hemiplegia can occur when there is a hemisection of the spinal cord, meaning only one half of the spinal cord is damaged due to trauma. This results in paralysis on the side of the body that is affected, leaving intact tracts on the other.
In contrast, hemiparesis is a condition involving weakness, but not complete paralysis, of one side of the body, which may evolve from infections or other medical conditions. Quadriplegia involves paralysis of all four limbs and the torso, often due to a complete sectioning of the spinal cord high in the vertebral column, and paraplegia affects the lower regions of the body such as the legs and pelvic organs, sparing the use of arms and hands.