What term is used to describe the loss of motor skills?

The term that describes the loss of motor skills is paralysis. Paralysis refers specifically to the complete loss of muscle function in one or more muscles. This condition can severely impact an animal's ability to move and perform normal activities. Paralysis can occur due to various reasons, including nerve damage, spinal cord injuries, or neurological disorders, leading to the complete inability to control movement in the affected areas.

In contrast, paresis refers to partial loss of motor function, meaning that some movement may still be possible but is weakened. Numbness is typically related to a loss of sensory function, which affects the feeling in the body rather than motor control. Spasticity involves increased muscle tone or stiff muscles, which results in abnormal movement patterns but does not imply a loss of motor skills like paralysis does. Therefore, paralysis is the most accurate term to describe a complete loss of motor skills.