Acrotrophoneurosis

/ˌækroʊˌtroʊfoʊnjʊəˈroʊsɪs/ noun

Definition

A rare medical condition affecting the nerves and nutrition of the extremities, causing tissue damage and degeneration.

Etymology

From Greek 'akron' (extremity), 'trophe' (nutrition), 'neuron' (nerve), plus '-osis' (condition/disease). A compound medical term describing malfunction of the nutritive and nervous systems at body extremities.

Kelly Says

This disease is so rare that modern textbooks barely mention it anymore, but in the 1800s-early 1900s it fascinated doctors because they couldn't decide whether it was a nutritional problem, a nerve problem, or something completely mysterious!

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