HEMIAPRAXIA Meaning and
Definition
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Hemiapraxia is a medical term used to describe a condition characterized by impaired motor planning and execution on one side of the body. It is typically associated with damage or dysfunction in the brain, particularly in the hemisphere opposite to the affected side of the body.
Individuals with hemiapraxia often experience difficulty performing purposeful movements, such as reaching, grasping, or manipulating objects, using the affected side of their body. This inability to adequately plan and execute motor actions is typically seen in coordination tasks, fine motor skills, and activities of daily living.
Hemiapraxia is commonly observed in patients who have suffered from a stroke, especially those with lesions in the contralateral hemisphere or the corpus callosum—a bundle of nerve fibers connecting the brain's hemispheres. It can also occur in individuals with brain tumors, traumatic brain injuries, or neurodegenerative diseases affecting the motor areas of the brain.
The severity of hemiapraxia can vary widely among individuals, ranging from mild difficulty with coordination to complete inability to perform motor tasks on the affected side. Rehabilitation strategies, including physical therapy and occupational therapy, are often employed to help individuals regain or compensate for their lost motor skills. These therapies work to improve muscle strength, coordination, and overall functional performance.
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Apraxia affecting one side of the body.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for HEMIAPRAXIA
- gemiapraxia
- bemiapraxia
- nemiapraxia
- jemiapraxia
- uemiapraxia
- yemiapraxia
- hwmiapraxia
- hsmiapraxia
- hdmiapraxia
- hrmiapraxia
- h4miapraxia
- h3miapraxia
- heniapraxia
- hekiapraxia
- hejiapraxia
- hemuapraxia
- hemjapraxia
- hemkapraxia
- hemoapraxia
- hem9apraxia
Etymology of HEMIAPRAXIA
The word "hemiapraxia" is derived from two Greek terms: "hemi-" and "apraxia".
The prefix "hemi-" originates from the Greek word "hemi-" (ἡμι-), meaning "half" or "partial". It refers to something that affects only one side, typically the left or right side of the body.
The second part of the word, "apraxia", comes from the Greek term "apraxis" (ἄπραξις), which means "inability to act" or "actionlessness". It refers to a neurological disorder characterized by the inability to perform purposeful movements or use objects correctly due to a loss of the capacity to plan and execute skilled movements.
