This document discusses suffixes related to the nervous system. It describes -plegia, meaning paralysis, and provides examples like hemiplegia and paraplegia. It also discusses -phasia, meaning speech, and examples like aphasia and dysphasia. Aphasia is defined as an inability to communicate verbally or in writing due to brain damage, often from a stroke. The document provides information on conditions that can cause paralysis or affect speech like strokes, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson's disease.

1. Module 12: Nervous
System
BIO 120
MARY OLIVA

2. Nervous System Suffixes
 -plegia
 -phasia

3. Nervous System Suffixes
 -plegia
Suffix meaning “paralysis”
 Paralysis: temporary or permanent loss of function or
voluntary movement
 Paralysis most often occurs when there is damage in
the nervous system, especially the spinal cord, stroke
(CVA), multiple sclerosis, Gullain-Barre syndrome,
Parkinson’s disease, spina bifida
Examples: monoplegia, paraplegia, quadriplegia,
hemiplegia

4. Nervous System Suffixes
Monoplegia: paralysis of one
extremity
“Mono-” – one, “-plegia” – paralysis

5. Nervous System Suffixes
 Paraplegia: paralysis of the lower
portion of the body and both legs
 “Para-” – two like parts of a pair, “-
plegia” - paralysis

6. Nervous System Suffixes
 Quadriplegia: paralysis of all four
limbs
 “Quadri-” – four; “-plegia” - paralysis

7. Hemiplegia: paralysis on only one
side of the body
 hemi- “half”; -plegia “paralysis”

8. Nervous System Suffixes
 -phasia:
 Suffix meaning “speech”
 Speech: vocalized form of human
language
 Examples: aphasia, dysphasia

9. Nervous System Suffixes
 Cerebrum: largest section of the
brain and is the area that processes
thoughts, judgment, memory,
problem solving and language
 Frontal lobe: most anterior portion of
cerebrum; controls motor function,
personality and speech

10. Nervous System Suffixes
Aphasia: inability to communicate
verbally or in writing due to damage of
the speech or language centers in the
brain
a- “without”; -phasia “speech”
 symptom of brain damage; can be
caused by stroke (CVA)

11. Nervous System Suffixes
 Dysphagia: difficulty communicating
verbally or in writing due to damage
of the speech or language centers in
the brain
 dys- “difficult”; -phagia “speech”
 result of brain lesion

12. Nervous System Suffixes
 CVA: cardiovascular accident
 Development of an infarct due to loss in the blood
supply to an area of the brain
 Blood flow can be interrupted by a ruptured blood
vessel (hemorrhage), a floating clot (embolus), a
stationary clot (thrombosis), or compression
 The extent of damage depends on the size and
location of the infarct and often includes dysphagia
and hemiplegia

13. Nervous System Suffixes
 Multiple sclerosis: inflammatory disease of the
central nervous system in which there is extreme
weakness and numbness due to loss of myelin
insulation from nerves
 Gullain-Barre syndrome: disease of the nervous
system in which nerves lose their myelin
covering
 Characterized by loss of sensation and/or muscle
control starting in the legs

14. Nervous System Suffixes
 Parkinson’s disease: chronic disorder of the
nervous system with fine tremors, muscular
weakness, rigidity, and a shuffling gait
 Spina bifida: congenital defect in the walls
of the spinal canal in which the laminae of
the vertebra do not meet or close