Heterotaxy
The abnormal placement of organs due to failure to establish the normal left-right patterning during embryonic development. The morbidity (disease) and mortality (death) from heterotaxy are caused by congenital defects, especially congenital heart disease.
Mutations in the zinc finger transcription factor ZIC3 cause an X-linked form of heterotaxy and have also been identified in patients with isolated congenital heart disease.
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- Heterotopic
In the wrong place, in an abnormal place, misplaced. From the Greek roots “hetero-” meaning “other” + “topos” meaning “place” = other place. For example, heterotopic bone formation is the formation of bone where it is not normally found, as in muscle.
- Heterozygote
An individual who has two different forms of a particular gene, one inherited from each parent. A heterozygote for cystic fibrosis (CF) has the CF gene on one chromosome 7 and the normal paired gene on the other chromosome 7. Also known as carrier.
- Heterozygous
Possessing two different forms of a particular gene, one inherited from each parent.
- Hexadactyly
on either side of the extremity or somewhere in between. With the hand for example, the extra finger can be out beyond the little finger (which is called ulnar hexadactyly) or out beyond the thumb (radial hexadacyly) or, finally, between two of the normally expected fingers (intercalary hexadactyly). Far and away the most frequent form […]
- Hg
Symbol for the metallic element mercury. The abbreviation “mm Hg” means millimeters of mercury, the height of a column of mercury, as in a blood pressure reading. Mercury is poisonous to people. See Mercury poisoning.