Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

Prefix referring to a gland, as in adenoma and adenopathy. From the Greek aden meaning originally “an acorn” and later “a gland” in the form of an acorn. Before a vowel, adeno- becomes aden-, as in adenitis (inflammation of a gland).

Any muscle that pulls a body part toward the midline. For example, the adductor muscles of the legs pull the legs toward the midline of the body so the legs are closer together. The word “adductor” comes from the Latin prefix “ad” meaning “toward” + “ducere” meaning “to draw or lead” = “to draw toward.”…

Movement of a limb toward the midline of the body. The opposite of adduction is abduction.

A syndrome with the following characteristic features: neurologically: mental retardation and aphasia (lack of speech) limbs: adducted (clasped) thumbs, absent extensor pollicis longus and/or brevis muscles to the thumb, shuffling gait, and leg spasticity growth: small body size skeleton: lumbar lordosis (sway back) The syndrome is inherited as an X-linked trait and so affects mainly boys. Alternative names include MASA…

A mechanism of quantitative inheritance such that the combined effects of genetic alleles at two or more gene loci are equal to the sum of their individual effects.

A blood disorder caused by a lack of vitamin B12. Patients who have this disorder do not produce the substance in the stomach that allows the body to absorb vitamin B12. This substance is called intrinsic factor (IF). Addisonian anemia, also called pernicious anemia (PA), is characterized by the presence in the blood of large, immature, nucleated cells…

Long-term underfunction of the outer portion of the adrenal gland. In medical terms, chronic insufficiency of the adrenal cortex. This may be due to a number of different insults to the adrenal including physical trauma, hemorrhage, and tuberculosis of the adrenal, and destruction of the cells in the pituitary gland that secrete ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone) which normally drives the adrenal.…

A blood disorder caused by a lack of vitamin B12. Patients who have this disorder do not produce the substance in the stomach that allows the body to absorb vitamin B12. This substance is called intrinsic factor (IF). Addison anemia, better known today as pernicious anemia (PA), is characterized by the presence in the blood of large, immature,…

A disorder in which the individual turns to the Internet or plays computer games in an attempt to change moods, overcome anxiety, deal with depression, reduce isolation or loneliness, or distract themselves from overwhelming problems. The elderly, as well as children and adolescents, are particularly vulnerable because they may not realize the extent of their dependency. In many…

An uncontrollable craving, seeking, and use of a substance such as alcohol or another drug. Dependence is such an issue with addiction that stopping is very difficult and causes severe physical and mental reactions.