Whorl
Whorl (Medicine)
Whorl (pronounced: /wɔːrl/) is a term used in various medical contexts, most commonly in dermatoglyphics and trichology.
Etymology
The term "whorl" originates from the Old English word "hweorfan," which means to turn or revolve. In a medical context, it refers to a pattern that spirals or circles around a central point.
Dermatoglyphics
In dermatoglyphics, a whorl refers to a pattern on the skin, particularly on the fingertips, where the ridges form circular or spiral patterns. These patterns are unique to each individual and are often used in fingerprint analysis. Whorl patterns are also studied in relation to certain genetic conditions, such as Down Syndrome and Alzheimer's Disease.
Trichology
In trichology, the study of hair and scalp, a whorl refers to the pattern in which hair grows from the scalp. Hair whorls can be clockwise or counterclockwise and can vary in number from person to person. The direction and number of hair whorls have been studied in relation to handedness and certain neurological conditions, such as Autism.
Related Terms
- Dermatoglyphics: The scientific study of the patterns on fingers and hands.
- Trichology: The scientific study of the health of hair and scalp.
- Down Syndrome: A genetic disorder caused by the presence of all or part of a third copy of chromosome 21.
- Alzheimer's Disease: A progressive disease that destroys memory and other important mental functions.
- Autism: A developmental disorder characterized by difficulties with social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Whorl
- Wikipedia's article - Whorl
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski