Heterotopic

/ˌhɛtərəˈtɑːpɪk/ adjective

Definition

Describing tissue, bone, or an organ that has grown in or been placed in an abnormal location in the body.

Etymology

Greek 'hetero-' (different) plus 'topic' (related to place); medical descriptor for anatomically displaced structures.

Kelly Says

When surgeons transplant bone into weird places, it's called heterotopic bone formation—and sometimes the body builds entirely new bone where there should be soft tissue, which is medically fascinating and clinically problematic.

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