monilethrix

noun

mo·​nil·​e·​thrix mə-ˈnil-ə-ˌthriks How to pronounce monilethrix (audio)
plural moniletriches ˌmän-ə-ˈle-trə-ˌkēz How to pronounce monilethrix (audio)
: an inherited disease of the hair in which each strand of hair has a beaded appearance due to periodic narrowing of the hair shaft and that is marked chiefly by fragile, brittle hair and patchy alopecia

Note: Monilethrix is typically inherited as an autosomal dominant trait requiring only one parent pass on a copy of the defective gene on a chromosome other than a sex chromosome.

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Cite this Entry

“Monilethrix.” Merriam-Webster.com Medical Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/monilethrix. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.

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