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#4
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01-11-2010, 01:30 AM
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Re: Man's Skeleton Grows Out of Control 0_o
It's called the Proteus syndrome: Named for the Greek god who could change his shape, this rare hereditary disorder is characterized by multiple lesions of the lymph nodes (lipolymphohemangiomas), overgrowth of one side of the body (hemihypertrophy), an abnormally large head (macrocephaly), partial gigantism of the feet, and darkened spots or moles (nevi) on the skin. Merrick's appearance, and especially his skeleton, carry all the hallmarks of the disorder, although apparently an extremely severe case. His head was so large that the hat he wore measured three feet in circumference. Basically, every time you hurt yourself, the body regenerates bone instead of the right tissue. |
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#8
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01-12-2010, 06:46 AM
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Re: Man's Skeleton Grows Out of Control 0_o
This is the skeleton of Harry Eastlack, a man afflicted with fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva. Proteus syndrome was a good guess, but wrong on this one. He is the most famous example of this disease, and his body is at the Mutter Museum in Philedelphia. The part above about the body transforming normal tissue into bone is correct. The elephant man did have Proteus syndrome, but not Harry. He ended his life completely frozen in bone, not even able to open his mouth.
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