HEMILATERAL Meaning and
Definition
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Hemilateral is an adjective that describes something that is situated on or affecting a single side or half of a particular area, structure, or organism. The term combines two root words: "hemi-" meaning half or partial, and "lateral" referring to the side.
When used in a medical or anatomical context, hemilateral often indicates a condition or occurrence that is limited to one side of the body. For instance, hemilateral paralysis refers to the paralysis of the muscles on one side of the body, while hemilateral headache describes a specific type of headache that affects one side of the head.
In other cases, the term may be used to describe a phenomenon or occurrence that involves just one side of a particular structure or object. For instance, in botany, a hemilateral leaf is one that originates from only one side of a stem, rather than being positioned opposite another leaf.
Hemilateral can also be utilized in a broader context, such as in discussions about politics or social dynamics. In these cases, it refers to a situation or stance that favors or affects one side or group over another. For example, a hemilateral trade agreement implies an agreement between two countries that benefits one more than the other.
Overall, the term hemilateral assists in providing a concise way to describe and understand occurrences, conditions, or traits that pertain to one side or half of a specific entity or system.
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Relating to one lateral half.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for HEMILATERAL
- gemilateral
- bemilateral
- nemilateral
- jemilateral
- uemilateral
- yemilateral
- hwmilateral
- hsmilateral
- hdmilateral
- hrmilateral
- h4milateral
- h3milateral
- henilateral
- hekilateral
- hejilateral
- hemulateral
- hemjlateral
- hemklateral
- hemolateral
- hem9lateral
Etymology of HEMILATERAL
The word "hemilateral" is a combination of two roots: "hemi-" and "-lateral".
The prefix "hemi-" derives from the Greek word "hēmi-" (or "haimi-"), meaning "half" or "one-half". It is used to indicate something being partial or one side of a whole.
The suffix "-lateral" comes from the Latin word "lateralis", meaning "of or pertaining to the side". It is used to describe something relating to or affecting a specific side.
When combined, "hemi-" and "-lateral" form "hemilateral", a term used to refer to something that affects or pertains to one side or a specific half of something.
