Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

The laws of heredity, that are the basis of the science of genetics [Described 1865. After Gregor Johann Mendel (1822-84), Austrian Augustinian monk and naturalist of Brno, whose work was rediscovered by de Vries in 1900.] Basic principles of inheritance, developed in the 19th century by the Austrian monk Gregor Mendel on the basis of…

To repair something.  

A series of ducts and canals formed of membrane inside the osseous labyrinth. Network of membranous semicircular ducts, containing the fluid endolymph, that are suspended within the bony semicircular canals of the inner ear and function in the maintenance of balance.  

A bone which develops from tissue and not from cartilage. A bone that develops in connective tissue by direct ossification, without cartilage being formed first. The bones of the face and skull are membrane bones. Bone formed within embryonic fibrous connective tissue, in which fibroblasts differentiate into osteoblasts. Such bone is formed without a cartilage…

The presence of little brown, yellow or black sports on the skin. A skin condition in which blotches of abnormally increased pigmentation appear on the face. In melasma, deposits of brown pigment may be noticed on the forehead, cheeks, or above the upper lip. The condition is referred to as the “mask of pregnancy” during…

The presence of dark colouring in the urine. A condition in which the urine turns black after being allowed to stand, e.g. in cases of malignant melanoma. The presence of dark pigment in the urine. This may be caused by the presence of melanin or its precursors in some cases of melanoma; it may alternatively…

A large amount of melanin in the skin. Discoloration of patches of the skin. Abnormal darkening of the skin caused by increased melanin deposits. Any of several malignant neoplasms, primarily of the skin, consisting of melanocytes. Most melanomas develop from a pigmented nevus (mole); any change in color or shape of such a mark suggests…

The unexpected depositing of dark pigment. The staining of all body tissue with melanin in a form of carcinoma. An unusually pronounced darkening of body tissues caused by excessive production of the pigment melanin. For example, melanism may affect the hair, the skin (after sunburn, during pregnancy, or in Addison’s disease), or the eyes. The…

Black faeces where the colour is caused by bleeding in the intestine. Blood in the faeces in which dark, tarry masses are passed from the bowel. It is due to bleeding from the stomach or from the higher part of the bowel, the blood undergoing chemical changes under the action of the secretions, and being…

A network of nerve fibres in the wall of the alimentary canal [Described 1853. After Georg Meissner (1829-1905), German anatomist and physiologist.] Bundle of autonomic nerves located in the submucosa of the small intestine. A fine network of parasympathetic nerve fibers in the wall of the alimentary canal, supplying the muscles and mucous membrane. An…