acromegalia

1 9.9

A disorder causing unusual bone growth in the hands, feet, and face from too much growth hormone

noun
/ˌækrəˈmɛɡəliə/

Specialized

: acromegalia

Symptoms of acromegalia often include headaches and enlarged hands and feet.

Examples

The patient was diagnosed with acromegalia after years of gradual facial bone growth.
Symptoms of acromegalia often include headaches and enlarged hands and feet.
Early treatment of acromegalia can help prevent permanent bone changes.
He was diagnosed with acromegalia last year.
Many patients with acromegalia experience joint pain.
The patient was diagnosed with acromegalia after years of gradual facial bone growth.
Early treatment of acromegalia can help prevent permanent bone changes.

Synonyms

acromegaly

vsacromegalia

Specialized

1 9.9

A condition where the hands, feet, and face grow too large from too much growth hormone

is the same disorder but spelled with an alternate form

Surface Forms

acromegalia singular

acromegalias plural

Morphology

acromegalia = acromegaly (semi-transparent) = acro + megaly + a

The immediate base 'acromegaly' is a medical term built from technical combining forms; the added '-a' is a variant ending rather than a productive everyday suffix.

Etymology

The word acromegalia comes from Greek parts acro- meaning 'tip' or 'end' and mega- meaning 'large', like in acrobat and megaphone. So acromegalia means 'large ends', which explains why the hands, feet, and face grow bigger in this disorder.