Contralateral for Dummies
What does Contralateral really mean?
Contralateral is a term used to describe something that is on the opposite side of the body or brain from a particular point or reference. It may sound like a big, confusing word, but let me break it down for you in simpler terms.
Imagine you are standing in front of a mirror. The person you see in the mirror is your reflection, right? Okay, now let's think about your arms. Your right arm is the one you write with, and your left arm is the one on the other side. Just like how the right arm is on one side of your body and the left arm is on the opposite side, the same idea applies when we talk about contralateral.
When we say something is contralateral, it means it's on the opposite side of our body or brain from where we started. For example, if you touch your right knee with your left hand, you are using your contralateral hand. The knee is on one side, and the hand you use to touch it is on the other side.
Now, let's talk about the brain. Our brain is divided into two halves, called hemispheres, known as the left and right hemispheres. The left hemisphere controls the right side of our body, while the right hemisphere controls the left side. So, when we use the term contralateral in relation to the brain, it means that something is happening on the opposite side of where it started.
For instance, let's say you touch your right hand to your left ear. The signals from your hand travel to the opposite side of your brain to interpret the sensation. This means that the sensation of touch is happening contralaterally.
Overall, when we use the word contralateral, it simply means that something is on the opposite side of a particular point or reference. It's like a mirror image, where one side reflects the other. So, the next time you hear or come across the term contralateral, just think about how it refers to something on the opposite side of your body or brain. Pretty cool, huh?
Revised and Fact checked by Alex Johnson on 2023-10-28 06:50:40
Contralateral In a sentece
Learn how to use Contralateral inside a sentece
- When you lift your right arm, your left arm is the contralateral arm.
- If you hurt your left leg, your right leg will compensate by bearing more weight. This is because the right leg is the contralateral leg.
- If you close your left eye, your right eye will still be able to see. This is because your eyes are contralateral.
- When you twitch your right ear, your left ear remains still. This is because your ears are contralateral.
- If you touch your left cheek, your right cheek won't feel the touch. This is because your cheeks are contralateral.
Contralateral Antonyms
Words that have the opposite context of the original word.