How Do You Spell POLYMASTIA?

Pronunciation: [pˌɒlɪmˈast͡ʃə] (IPA)

Polymastia is a medical term used to describe the presence of extra breasts or nipples. The spelling of this word follows the rules of Latin and Greek roots. "Poly-" means "many" and "mastia" comes from the Greek "mastos," meaning breast. The "ia" ending indicates a medical condition. In IPA phonetic transcription, it would be written as /ˌpɒliˈmæstiə/. Understanding the origin and spelling of medical terms can help professionals communicate more effectively and accurately with colleagues and patients.

POLYMASTIA Meaning and Definition

1. Polymastia is a medical condition characterized by the presence of more than the usual number of mammary glands or breasts in an individual. It is a rare anatomical variant in humans and is often congenital, meaning a person is born with it. In females, it typically manifests as the development of supernumerary breasts, which are additional breast tissue or nipples located outside the standard bilateral chest area. These extra breasts can occur in various locations, such as the underarms, back, or groin.

   Polymastia occurs due to an abnormality during embryonic development, where the mammary gland primordia form excessively. The underlying cause of this condition is not well understood, but it is believed to be influenced by genetic factors or hormonal imbalances. Polymastia is often harmless and asymptomatic unless complications arise, such as infection, discomfort, or cosmetic concerns. In such cases, surgical removal of the accessory breasts may be considered.

   This condition should not be confused with polythelia, which refers to the presence of additional nipples without complete breast tissue. Polymastia, on the other hand, involves the development of functional mammary glands.

   Overall, polymastia is an uncommon anatomical variation characterized by the presence of supernumerary mammary glands, requiring proper evaluation and management if associated complications or patient concerns arise.

2. Polymazia, hypermastia; a condition in which, in the human, more than two breasts are present.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for POLYMASTIA

• oolymastia
• lolymastia
• -olymastia
• 0olymastia
• pilymastia
• pklymastia
• pllymastia
• pplymastia
• p0lymastia
• p9lymastia
• pokymastia
• popymastia
• pooymastia
• poltmastia
• polgmastia
• polhmastia
• polumastia
• pol7mastia
• pol6mastia
• polynastia

Etymology of POLYMASTIA

The word polymastia is derived from two Greek roots: poly, meaning many, and mastia, meaning breast.

Plural form of POLYMASTIA is POLYMASTIAS