Tetraplegia, also known as
quadriplegia, is
paralysis caused by illness or injury that results in the partial or total loss of use of all their limbs and torso;
paraplegia is similar but does not affect the arms. The loss is usually sensory and motor, which means that both sensation and control are lost.
Tetraparesis or
quadriparesis, on the other hand, means muscle weakness affecting all four limbs. It may be
flaccid or
spastic.