Hemihypertrophy

/ˌhɛmiˌhaɪpərˈtroʊfi/ noun

Definition

Excessive growth or enlargement of tissues, organs, or one half or one side of the body.

Etymology

From 'hemi-' (half) + 'hyper-' (excessive) + Greek 'trophe' (nourishment/growth), describing unilateral overgrowth conditions discovered in the 1800s.

Kelly Says

Some babies are born with one arm or leg noticeably larger than the other due to hemihypertrophy—it's like growth hormones went wild on just one side, and it can be associated with serious conditions like tumors, showing how growth is normally kept carefully balanced.

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