Hemianalgesia

/ˌhɛmiˌænælˈdʒiziə/ noun

Definition

Loss of pain sensation on one side of the body while retaining sensation on the other side.

Etymology

From 'hemi-' plus 'analgesia' (from Greek 'an-,' without, and 'algos,' pain). Describes dissociative pain loss, often from spinal cord or brain lesions.

Kelly Says

Imagine being unable to feel pain on one side of your body—this strange symptom helped doctors understand that pain signals travel through specific pathways in the spinal cord that can be damaged one side at a time!

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