upper and lower extremities

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "upper and lower extremities" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in medical or anatomical contexts to refer to the arms (upper extremities) and legs (lower extremities) of the body. Example: "The patient exhibited weakness in both the upper and lower extremities, necessitating further examination."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The upper and lower extremities of humans offer many interesting points of comparison and of contrast.

Britannica

Fascia-only flaps were used for thin, pliable coverage in the upper and lower extremities.

Stanford University

We have recently expanded our research to include rehabilitation of both the upper and lower extremities in children with hemiplegia with great success.

Columbia University

The axial part consists of the head, neck, thorax, abdomen, and pelvis whereas the appendicular part consists of the upper and lower extremities.

Introduction to Biomedical Engineering

Munguía-Izquierdo D, Legaz-Arrese A. Reliability and validity of a low load endurance strength test for upper and lower extremities in patients with fibromyalgia.

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Conclusion: Casting is effective in the treatment of fixed contractures of the upper and lower extremities caused by increased muscle tone of cerebral origin.

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

The circuit training improved muscle forces of the upper and lower extremities and abdominal muscles (P<0.05), and 6 min walking distance (P<0.05).

Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics

The police found a skull as well as a bag containing what one law enforcement official said appeared to be "upper and lower extremities".

The New York Times

MMTs of his right upper and lower extremities showed 1/5 and 3/5, respectively.

JA Clinical Reports

Counter-action of upper and lower extremities can be seen to balance the body.

Video Journal of Education and Pedagogy

We used these assessments to compare the time course and patterns of motor function of the upper and lower extremities.

Duke University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In medical or scientific writing, use "upper and lower extremities" for precision. In general contexts, "arms and legs" is often sufficient.

Common error

Avoid using "extremities" alone when clarity is needed. Specify "upper and lower extremities" to prevent ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "upper and lower extremities" functions as a noun phrase, specifically referring to anatomical regions of the body. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

61%

Academia

15%

News & Media

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "upper and lower extremities" is a grammatically correct and commonly used term, as verified by Ludwig AI, referring to the arms and legs. While "arms and legs" is suitable for informal contexts, "upper and lower extremities" provides precision in medical and scientific writing. The phrase appears most frequently in scientific and academic sources. Alternatives include "arms and legs" and "upper limbs and lower limbs". For clarity, specify "upper and lower extremities" instead of just "extremities" to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

upper limbs and lower limbs

This phrase maintains the anatomical distinction but uses the term "limbs".

arms and legs

This is a simpler, more common way to refer to the upper and lower extremities.

upper limbs and legs

Combination of the other alternative phrases that is more focused on the practical meaning of the search query

arms and lower limbs

Combination of the other alternative phrases that is more focused on the practical meaning of the search query

extremities

This shortened version implies both upper and lower unless specified otherwise.

arms and lower part of body

More descriptive and splits the extremities into their relevant body part association

lower body and upper part

More descriptive and splits the extremities into their relevant body part association

appendages

This is a more general term for limbs or other projecting body parts.

upper body and lower body

This refers to broader regions, including more than just the limbs.

distal segments

Refers to the parts furthest from the core of the body and is a more technical way to refer to the extremities

FAQs

What does "upper and lower extremities" refer to?

The phrase "upper and lower extremities" refers to the arms and legs of the human body. It is commonly used in medical and anatomical contexts.

When should I use "upper and lower extremities" instead of "arms and legs"?

Use "upper and lower extremities" in formal, medical, or scientific writing where precision is important. In everyday conversation or less formal writing, "arms and legs" is perfectly acceptable.

What is another way to say "upper and lower extremities"?

Alternatives include "arms and legs" or "upper limbs and lower limbs", depending on the level of formality required.

Is it incorrect to say "extremities" when referring to both upper and lower?

While "extremities" can refer to both, it's best to specify "upper and lower extremities" for clarity, especially in medical contexts, to avoid any ambiguity.