|
|
Abnormal Abortion |
| Agenesis Adnexa Anencephaly Abdomen
Abduct |
| Cephalad Caudad |
| Vagus Valgus Varus Valga Vara |
This overview follows the realization that many
are bewildered by the prefixes A, AB, and
AD as in AGENESIS, APLASIA, ABNORMAL and ADDICT. The same
is true for the medical terms VALGUS and
VARUS and their feminine equivalents of VALGA and
VARA.
 |
This ABnormally short individual has a big ABdomen
from excessive ABduction of food causing ADiposity. |
The prefix A as in AN-encephaly does not reflect upon the cause of this
developmental A-nomaly of the encephalon or
head. Anencephaly could result from an A-genesis, implying lack of genes, or from A-plasia, implying a failure to translate
genetic IN-formation needed for the FORMATION of tissues. When the PLASICITY of
tissues is abnormal, as in DYS-plasia, the resulting MORPHOLOGY is distorted or DYS-morphic. Put simply, anencephaly is a
MAL-formation or in popular parlance, a "BIRTH DEFECT". This term
is used to describe anomalies of structure as well as of function such as mental
"retardation". Furthermore, "birth defect" applies to any anomalies due to causes
acting before birth, whether genetic or
environmental in nature.
The prefix AB implies "AWAY from" as in AB-normal, thus a
departure from "NORM" or "middle". Muscles that produce motion away from the "middle"
or axis are referred to as ABDUCTORS. Note that as we eat, we "put away"
or ABduct food into our ABDOMENs.
The prefix AD implies "toward" as in ADD,
ADD-endum ADD-uce and ADD-ict. Furthermore , AD is also a
suffix as in cephal-ad or caud-ad, to imply
"toward" the head or toward the tail or CAUDA.
 |
| This sculpture by Rodin
shows Balzac as having a prominent ABdomen. Balzac also had an ABducting personality.
Balzac deducted ideas and ADDuced them in ways that changed prevailing social mores. (Rodin) |
Note that many scientists ADDUCE or claim that
folic acid can prevent the majority of instances of
ANENCEPHALY. Others ADDUCE that ABNORMALITIES
in the offspring of women ADDICTED to alcohol are
much harder to prevent.
| |
 |
| Note the axis of the long bones. The angle formed by the femur (thigh bone)
with the tibia (leg bone) or genu vara (knees toward the midline or "knock knee") is
quite variable. |
In medical parlance, the implications in AB and AD
are found in VALGUS or VALGA and VARUS or VARA.
These terms when combined with CUBITUS, COXA, GENU, TALIPES and PES for elbow or
forearm, hip or thigh, knee, ankle, and foot are used to describe twisted and deviated bones, a common sign in
dwarfing or short stature syndromes.
| |
 |
| Cubitus (forearm) varus (inward) and manu
(hand) valga (away). (Decamps) |
CUBITUS VALGUS or "forearm away" (wrists excessively away from
the axis or middle) is noted among patients with Turner Syndrome (a condition
causing abnormal ovaries or ADnexa). The
equivalent in the lower limbs is COXA VARA or GENU VALGA which in popular parlance is referred to as “knock knees”.
GENU VARUM or "knees away" or "bowed legs", refers to a relatively
common human variation which if exaggerated is suggestive of a skeletal disorder. Formerly GENU VARUM was a sign of rickets.
Being JOVIAL is a way to pay tribute to the
perpetually JUVENILE JOVE. In this spirit note
uses of prefixes like AD and DE to describe some children who are "stinkers" or
"kids", as if to underscore that some of them "stink" or behave like "goats". The approach of ADOLESCENCE may be announced by another sort of SCENT or SMELL particularly in the
lower FOSSA AXILLARIS or
arm pit. The ODOR may be intense and call for the use of a deODORant.
To close, note that "growing up" reflects
concurrent CEPHALAD and CAUDAD expansion. A
poet could say that a maturing CEPHALON should be matched by a CAUDA that engenders CAUTION.
Realists also may point out that ADULTS who engage in ADULTERATIONS and
ADULTERY may shortchange CAUTION in favor
of EMOTIONS. In any case, the ancient have
noted that most ADULTS, even those who engage in ADULTERATIONS, take PRECAUTIONS to nurture their
"bottom line" or "liquid assets". The Latin word CAUDA for "bottom" gave rise to CAUDAL which in
Spanish denotes flow as well as "liquid assets". |
