View source for Paresis

{{Short description|Medical condition characterized by muscle weakness}}
{{About|the physical malady|the mental disorder|general paresis of the insane}}
{{distinguish|Paruresis|Parecis (disambiguation){{!}}Parecis}}
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In medicine, '''paresis''' ({{IPAc-en|p|ə|ˈ|r|iː|s|ɪ|s|,_|ˈ|p|æ|r|ə|s|ɪ|s}}),  compound word from Greek {{langx|grc|πάρεσις}}, (πᾰρᾰ- “beside” + ἵημι “let go, release”), is a condition typified by a weakness of voluntary movement, or by partial loss of voluntary movement or by impaired movement. When used without qualifiers, it usually refers to the limbs, but it can also be used to describe the muscles of the [[Human eyes|eyes]] ([[ophthalmoparesis]]), the [[stomach]] ([[gastroparesis]]), and also the [[vocal cord]]s ([[vocal cord paresis]]).  

Neurologists use the term ''paresis'' to describe weakness, and ''plegia'' to describe [[paralysis]] in which all voluntary movement is lost. The term ''paresis'' comes from the {{langx|grc| πάρεσις}} 'letting go' from παρίημι 'to let go, to let fall'.

==Types==

===Limbs===
* [[Monoparesis]] – One leg or one arm
* [[Paraparesis]] – Both legs
* [[Hemiparesis]] – The loss of function to only one side of the body
* [[Triparesis]] – Three limbs. This can either mean both legs and one arm, both arms and a leg, or a combination of one arm, one leg, and face
* [[Double Hemiparesis|Double hemiparesis]] – All four limbs are involved, but one side of the body is more affected than the other
* [[Tetraparesis]] – All four limbs
* [[Quadriparesis]] – All four limbs, equally affected
* These terms frequently refer to the impairment of motion in [[multiple sclerosis]]<ref name="MedlinePlusEncyclopedia">{{MedlinePlusEncyclopedia|000748}}</ref> and [[cerebral palsy]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cerebralpalsy.org/about-cerebral-palsy/types-and-forms|title=Types of Cerebral Palsy|work=cerebralpalsy.org|access-date=2017-05-23|language=en}}</ref>

===Other===
* [[Gastroparesis]] – impaired stomach emptying
* A form of [[ophthalmoplegia]]
* Spastic paresis – exaggerated tendon reflexes and muscle hypertonia<ref>{{cite book |last=Young |first=Robert |editor-first=Jack |editor-last=Burks |title=Multiple Sclerosis - Diagnosis, Medical Management and Rehabilitation |publisher=Demos Medical Publishing, Inc. |year=2000 |pages=299 |chapter=Chapter 15: Spastic Paresis |isbn=1-888799-35-8}}</ref>
* In the past, the term was most commonly used to refer to "[[general paresis]]", which was a symptom of untreated [[syphilis]].<ref name="MedlinePlusEncyclopedia" /> However, due to improvements in treatment of syphilis, it is now rarely used in this context.

==See also==
{{col div|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Asthenia]]
* [[Ataxia]]
* [[Atony]]
* [[Catatonia]]
* [[Fatigue (physical)]]
* [[Facial nerve paralysis]]
* [[Hypotonia]]
* [[Malaise]]
* [[Muscle weakness]]
* [[Palsy]]
{{colend}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{wiktionary | paresis}}
* [http://www.mult-sclerosis.org/paresis.html Overview]
* [http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/paresis.html Hind Limb Paresis and Paralysis in Rabbits]

{{Movement and gait symptoms and signs}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Symptoms and signs]]
[[Category:Medical terminology]]