melo-, mel-, -melia +

Abnormal or unreasonable length of hands and feet: In the newspaper Bob read about a person having a case of acrodolichomelia which was explained as being a result of disproportionate or continued growth beyond the usual time of physical maturation.

A rare disorder of middle age, characterized by attacks of a severe burning pain, a reddening of the skin, hyperalgesia and sweating, involving one or more extremities: Acromelalgia occurs usually in both feet and the attacks can be triggered by warmth, and are usually relieved by cold packs and limb elevation.

Acromelalgia is a condition affecting the extremities, especially the feet, and marked by burning and throbbing sensations that come and go.

The throbbing and burning pain in the skin is often caused by exertion or heat, affecting the hands and feet, accompanied by a dusky mottled redness of the parts with increased skin temperature.

Relating to the terminal parts of a person's extremities: An acromelic disorder usually affects the ends of an individual's limbs, like the arms or legs.

1. The absence of an entire limb (arm or leg or both).
2. Congenital absence of a limb or limbs.

Usually the associated shoulder girdle or, less commonly, the associated pelvic girdle is also hypoplastic. A small soft-tissue protuberance may be present at the site of the missing limb.

Amelia is an extremely rare anomaly now. Between 1958 and 1963, it occurred with some frequency as a result of thalidomide embryopathy.

Analysis of the thalidomide anomalies showed that the drug produced limb defects only when taken between the 35th and 45th days after the last menstrual period.

Exposure during the early part of the vulnerable period led to very severe arm defects; such as, amelia or one-finger phocomelia; later exposure led to three-finger phocomelias and femoral and tibial defects.

Exposure near the end of the seventh week resulted only in minor thumb deformities (triphalangia). Exposure after fifty days of postmenstruation was associated with few or no fetal abnormalities.

A person without extremities; especially, a congenital absence of extremities.

A condition of inequality between two paired limbs or in which paired limbs are noticeably unequal.

Congenital deformity of one or more arms or legs: Dr. Jonas, the orthopedic surgeon, reassured Janice that the cacomelia of her legs could be corrected by surgery and physiotherapy.

1. A bending of the limbs, producing permanent bowing, or curving, of the affected part.
2. A skeletal dysplasia characterized by a bending of the long bones of the limbs (arms and legs), resulting in a permanent bowing or curvature of the affected part or parts.

Congenital duplication of the whole or a part of a limb.

"Spider fingers" or a physical condition in which the fingers are long, slender, and curved, resembling a spider's legs.

Long, slender fingers can be normal and not associated with any medical problems; however, in some cases, the tendency to develop spider fingers can indicate an underlying disease.

1. Congenital deformity or absence of a portion of one or more limbs of the body.
2. Congenital abnormality characterized by missing or foreshortened limbs, sometimes with associated spine abnormalities; caused by metabolic disturbance at the time of primordial limb development.

The congenital absence, or imperfection, of one or more limbs.

The normally associated pectoral or pelvic girdle is usually present but may be reduced. A fleshy tab is sometimes seen at the site of the missing limb. Also called amelia.

1. A reference to the congenital absence or gross shortening of long bones of a limb or the limbs.
2. Characterized by a congenital absence of one or more limbs.

Referring to the ectromelia or a congenital absence of one or more limbs.

A throbbing and burning pain in the skin: Erythromelalgia is often brought about by exertion or heat, affecting the hands and feet, accompanied by a mottled redness of the parts with increased skin temperature.

Erythromelalgia can be considered to be a rare disorder of middle age, characterized by paroxysmal attacks of severe burning pain, reddening, hyperalgesia and sweating, involving one or more extremities, usually both feet and the attacks can be triggered by heat, and are usually relieved by cold packs and limb elevation.