clinodactyly
9.9
A finger or toe that curves to one side from birth
- noun
- /ˌklaɪnəˈdæktəli/
- Specialized
:
clinodactilia
- Brachydactyly and/or clinodactyly were consistent features in the hands and/or feet.
Examples
-
The doctor explained that clinodactyly is the condition where the pinky finger curves toward the ring finger.
-
After the examination, the specialist diagnosed her with clinodactyly affecting her right thumb.
-
Children with clinodactyly may have difficulty gripping objects due to the curvature of their fingers.
Surface Forms
clinodactyly singular
clinodactylies plural
Morphology
clinodactyly = clino + dactyl + y
The word is not transparent due to the specialized medical terminology and less common roots.
Etymology
Clinodactyly comes from Greek parts clino- meaning 'to bend or lean', like in incline, and dactyl meaning 'finger', like in pterodactyl. So it means 'bent finger', which explains a condition where a finger or toe is curved to one side.
