Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

The shoulder blade (or “wingbone”), the familiar flat triangular bone at the back of the shoulder. The word “scapula” (with the accent on the first syllable) is Latin. The Romans always employed the plural “scapulae”, the shoulder blades. Because the shoulder blade resembles the blade of a trowel (a small shovel), the word “scapula” is thought to…

As a noun, the data or image obtained from the examination of organs or regions of the body by gathering information with a sensing device. For specific scans, please see their alphabetical listings (such as Bone scan, CAT scan, Spiral CAT scan, Nuchal fold scan, and Thyroid scan).

Abnormal shedding or accumulation of an upper layer of skin (the stratum corneum).

1. In genetics, the chromosome structure consisting entirely of nonhistone proteins remaining after all the DNA and histone proteins have been removed from a chromosome.2. In genomic mapping, a series of contigs that are in the right order but not necessarily connected in one continuous stretch of sequence.

A medication used to treat scabies. Although they were the most effective treatment, medications such as the lindane solution Kwell contain benzene, and are no longer recommended for use.

One of a group of tumors usually arising from connective tissue. Most sarcomas are malignant. Many types are named after the type of cell, tissue, or structure involved, as in angiosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, fibrosarcoma, liposarcoma,and osteosarcoma.

A disease of unknown origin that causes small lumps (granulomas) due to chronic inflammation in body tissues. Sarcoidosis can appear in almost any body organ, but it most often starts in the lungs or lymph nodes. It can also affect the eyes, liver, and skin; and less often it affects the spleen, bones, joints, skeletal muscles, heart, and central nervous system.…

Female homosexuality. Named after the poet Sappho who lived on the Greek island of Lesbos (circa 600 BC). She was a lesbian by geography and sexual orientation. Also called lesbianism.

1) Having a ruddy (reddish) complexion. 2) Cheerful, hopeful, confident, and optimistic; impulsive. The word “sanguine” from the Latin “sanguineus” for “blood” has long been used in English for things relating to the blood. A person who is ruddy in complexion is sanguine. His (or her) ruddy countenance was once thought to be due to…

A final treatment for people who are not responsive to or cannot tolerate other available therapies for a particular condition.