inborn error of metabolism
- noun
- /ˈɪnˌbɔrn ˈɛrər əv mɛˈtæbəlɪzəm/
- Specialized
:
error innato del metabolismo
- Children with inborn errors of metabolism often require special diets to manage their conditions.
Examples
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To examine the mechanisms of demyelination in human beings, we have studied children with inborn errors of metabolism of the methyl-transfer pathway.
Academic text (1991) -
Three patients with inborn errors of metabolism in the methyl-transfer pathway were studied.
Academic text (1991) -
ALD is an inborn error of metabolism that causes a degeneration of the brain.
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We run a center for adolescents and adults with inborn errors of metabolism and have recently done a similar audit that complements and extends these results.
Academic text (2002) -
Some inborn errors of metabolism can be detected at birth through routine screening tests.
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A doctor explained that an inborn error of metabolism could lead to serious health problems if not treated.
Surface Forms
Morphology
inborn + error + of + metabolism
The phrase is compositionally built from 'inborn' (present at birth) + 'error' (fault/mistake) + 'metabolism' (biochemical processes), so a learner who knows the constituent words can infer it means a congenital problem in metabolic processes. Although it is medical jargon, the noun phrase follows regular English composition and has clear parallels in other languages, making the overall meaning accessible to a B1 learner who knows the parts.
Etymology
Inborn error of metabolism comes from the idea behind the words: inborn means born with, error means a mistake, and metabolism is the body's chemical 'factory'. Imagine a baby born with a small missing worker called an 'enzyme' so the factory cannot 'process' food properly. That's why the term means a disease passed from parents that makes the body's metabolism not work properly.
