#growth

• Acrogenous — Regarding plants or structures; developing, growing, or originating exclusively at the tip, apex, or upper extremity, typical of vascular cryptogams like ferns.
• Acromegalic — Suffering from acromegaly; characterized by the excessive and disproportionate development of the body's extremities (hands, feet, facial bones, nose, jaw) due to the pathological hypersecretion of growth hormone (somatotropin) after the closure of epiphyseal plates. As a noun, it designates a male individual clinically diagnosed with this chronic neuroendocrine condition, most commonly triggered by a pituitary adenoma.
• Acromegalic woman — The feminine form of the word 'acromegal'; it describes a female individual or an anatomical structure (conformation, physiognomy, symptomatology) affected by acromegaly or characterized by the traits of this disease. In women, the progression of the condition can cause, alongside skeletal changes, severe menstrual cycle disorders and macroglossia.
• Acromegalic — A synonymous variant of the adjective acromegal; relating to acromegaly, manifesting its symptoms, or affected by the hypersecretion of somatotropin. As a noun, the term defines a male individual presenting the clinical picture of the disease, marked by hypertrophy of the facial bones, hands, and feet secondary to a pituitary adenoma.
• Acromegalic woman — The feminine form of the word 'acromegalic'; it defines a female individual or a physical manifestation affected by this neuroendocrine dysfunction. The symptomatology in women comprises, alongside facial and skeletal changes, frequent associations with secondary hypertension and voice deepening.
• Acromegaly — A chronic neuroendocrine disease caused by a pathological hypersecretion of growth hormone (somatotropin) and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) in adulthood, after the closure of epiphyseal growth plates. The condition is characterized by the exaggerated enlargement of skeletal extremities (hands, feet), hypertrophy of facial bones (prognatism, prominent brow ridges), soft tissue thickening, macroglossia, and secondary severe cardiac or metabolic dysfunctions.
• Acropachy — A rare pathological clinical syndrome characterized by the subperiosteal thickening and deformation of the long bones of the extremities, associated with soft tissue hypertrophy of the fingers and toes (clubbing / Hippocratic digits). This osteoarticular structural phenomenon occurs most frequently as an advanced extrathyroidal manifestation of Graves' disease (thyroid acropachy), typically coexisting with exophthalmos and pretibial myxedema.
• Acropetal — Developing, moving, evolving, or propagating from the base toward the apex (ascendingly), in the direction of the upper extremity of an organ or structural organism. In botany, the term describes an inflorescence with acropetal succession (where the oldest flowers are located at the base and the youngest ones or buds gradually open toward the apex) or the transport of sap and regulatory substances through plant vascular tissues.
• Acrotonous — Pertaining to acrotony; a plant, stem, or shrub characterized by the buds situated toward the apex (apical) developing much more strongly and rapidly than those at the base, structurally dominating branch growth. As a noun, the term describes a type of vegetative behavior where primary branching occurs exclusively within the upper zone of the central axis, representing an essential trait of many deciduous tree species.
• Acrotropism — A phenomenon of orientation, bending, or tropistic movement of plant organs (shoots, roots, stalks) directed strictly toward a point of prominence, a superior extremity, or an anatomical apex determined by an external stimulus (light, mechanical contact). This structural reaction guides the elongation direction of meristematic tissues, ensuring optimal spatial adaptation of the foliar or root apparatus in relation to surrounding environmental resources.
• Actinotropism — A biological property and oriented growth phenomenon of certain plant organs or sessile organisms, consisting of their directional bending or growth under the direct and asymmetric influence of luminous or other radiant fluxes. This structural mechanism optimizes the capture of energy required for metabolic processes based on ray incidence.
• Adenolipomatosis — A condition characterized by the benign, simultaneous, and excessive proliferation of adipose tissue within or around lymph nodes and glandular structures, leading to a diffuse enlargement of their volume. This histopathological structural phenomenon disrupts the normal architecture of regional soft tissue, generating palpable nodular formations that are often asymptomatic but can pose differential diagnosis challenges with simple lipomas or malignant lymphadenopathies.
• Lipoma — A benign, well-circumscribed, and encapsulated tumor formation consisting of the localized proliferation of mature adipose cells; a very rare medical term used as a perfect synonym for the classic lipoma. This structural benign neoplasm develops within the subcutaneous cellular tissue or intermuscular spaces, presenting a soft, elastic consistency and a slow evolution, without tendencies for infiltration or malignancy.
• Adnation — A biological or structural phenomenon consisting of the congenital union, fusion, or concrescence of organs or floral parts belonging to different whorls (for instance, the fusion of stamens with the petals of the corolla). This process is essential in plant taxonomy, determining major evolutionary modifications in plant morphology and optimizing pollination mechanisms.
• Aerides — A genus of tropical epiphytic orchids in the family Orchidaceae, native to South and Southeast Asia (from India to the Philippines and New Guinea). They are structurally characterized by vigorous monopodial growth, thick and long aerial roots, and densely clustered pendulous inflorescences with spectacular, heavily fragrant flowers, typically white, pink, or purple, featuring a characteristic forward-pointing spur.
• Aërides falcatum — A remarkable ornamental species of epiphytic orchid in the family Orchidaceae, native to Southeast Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar). It is structurally characterized by robust monopodial growth, strap-like, rigid leaves slightly curved like a sickle (falcate), and long, pendulous inflorescences bearing numerous creamy-white flowers with spectacular bright pink-violet blotches on the tips and lip, heavily fragrant.
• Aërides odoratum — The type and highly popular species of tropical epiphytic orchid in the genus Aerides, family Orchidaceae, native to a wide range of South and Southeast Asia. It is structurally characterized by long and robust monopodial stems, strap-like fleshy leaves, and densely packed pendulous inflorescences bearing numerous white or creamy flowers with purple spots at the tips, renowned for their sweet and intense fragrance resembling lemon or jasmine.
• Aerotropic — Relating to aerotropism; exhibiting an orientation movement or a directed growth reaction of plant vegetative organs (roots, stems) under the direct influence of atmospheric air or local oxygen concentration. The term describes the biological properties of plant tissues reacting structurally to the presence of various gases in the surrounding environment.
• Aerotropism — A specific form of tropism or oriented growth movement of plant vegetative organs, such as roots or mycelial filaments, determined by the presence of air or the variation of oxygen concentration in the surrounding environment. This structural phenomenon allows plants to guide their roots toward well-aerated soil layers or to develop respiratory structures above water.
• Large mulberry tree — A regional or augmentative popular name used to denote a very large mulberry tree (genus Morus) featuring a thick trunk and an extensively developed canopy, or an old, wild specimen. In certain local dialects, the term also indicates black mulberry varieties that yield bulky fruits.