Valgus

Part of speech: adjective, noun

Definitions

1. A condition characterized by an outward angulation of body parts, typically referring to the knees, where they bend outward
2. This term describes a deformity in which a limb or part of the body deviates away from the midline, such as in the knees or toes
3. It signifies an abnormal positioning of a body segment away from the body's center, commonly observed in joints like the knees or elbows

Etymology: Latin "valgus" meant "bow-legged" or "knock-kneed," and the word was used in ancient Rome to describe legs that curved outward at the knee. English borrowed it directly from Latin as a medical term, so the sense of the word has stayed fixed on the body rather than drifting into general use. In modern English, "valgus" is an adjective and noun used in orthopaedics to describe this outward bending of the knee, and the opposite condition, where the knees bend inward, is called "varus." The two Latin words form a matched pair, and doctors use them to describe the direction of a joint's deviation from its normal alignment.