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r/ItsFascinating

This person was born with a triphalangeal thumb, a rare congenital difference in which the thumb contains three phalanges instead of the usual two. The extra bone can be tiny or large enough to make the thumb resemble another finger.
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This person was born with a triphalangeal thumb, a rare congenital difference in which the thumb contains three phalanges instead of the usual two. The extra bone can be tiny or large enough to make the thumb resemble another finger.

Most human thumbs contain two phalanges, while the other fingers contain three. In triphalangeal thumb, an additional phalanx develops between the usual proximal and distal bones.The extra phalanx can vary considerably in size and shape, so the appearance and function of the thumb can differ from person to person. Some individuals have little functional impairment, while others may undergo surgery to improve thumb alignment or hand function.

u/ChiRko3 — 7 days ago
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Opisthotonus, the severe backward arching of the spine seen in tetanus, shown in a modern hospital patient (top) and in Charles Bell's 1809 painting of a soldier with the disease (bottom). Tetanus is caused by a toxin from Clostridium tetani bacteria, and vaccination prevents it.

u/Dazzling_Giraffe_817 — 11 days ago
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This unusually white raccoon shows how striking genetic pigmentation abnormalities can make a familiar North American animal look almost completely different

A completely white raccoon with pink or reddish eyes can be associated with albinism, a genetic condition involving reduced or absent melanin production. Albinism can affect the pigmentation of the fur, skin and eyes and may also cause visual problems because pigment is important in normal development of the visual system.

u/AdvisorBusiness3204 — 8 days ago
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Sand cats are elusive and rare to see in the wild, this one is spotted with its kittens

u/Cypapi — 11 days ago
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Puyi, the last emperor of China, was born on 7 February 1906 and enthroned on 2 December 1908 at age 2 years and 10 months, after the Guangxu Emperor died on 14 November. He was forced to abdicate on 12 February 1912 at age six, ending more than 2,000 years of imperial rule.

u/Acceptable_Use7055 — 11 days ago
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South African inventor Sonnet Ehlers created a barbed, condom-like device called Rape-aXe in 2005, designed to be worn internally and latch onto an attacker during assault, requiring surgical removal. It was intended as a deterrent amid South Africa's high rape rates

u/kkul-0613 — 13 days ago