Definition

A long-term health condition in adults that causes the bones in the hands, feet, and face to grow larger than normal due to too much growth hormone produced by the pituitary gland.

Example

The patient was diagnosed with acromegaly after noticing significant changes in the size of his hands and face.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of acromegaly?

Yeah, I read about it in an article once.

It's interesting how it affects the bones and face, right?

Definitely! It's surprising what our bodies can do.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Acromegaly is formed from "acro-" (from Greek 'akron', meaning extremity or peak) and "megaly" (from Greek 'megalus', meaning large or enlarged). The term describes a condition characterized by the enlargement of the extremities, such as hands and feet.

Memory Tip

Imagine the 'extremities' ('acro-') of the body becoming 'large' ('megaly') — that's what acromegaly refers to.

Visually Confused Words