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The syndrome includes umbilical hernia (also called exomphalos), a large tongue (macroglossia), and enhanced growth (gigantism). For more information see our response to a question about this syndrome (click here), and also visit the Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome Support Network at www.beckwith-wiedemann.org/
(Also known as the Wiedemann-Beckwith Syndrome (WBS) and the Exomphalos-Macroglossia-Gigantism (EMG) syndrome.)
One of the connective tissues of the body. It is a strong composite material, made of a matrix containing collagen fibres and crystals of calcium hydroxyapatite, and containing osteocytes (bone cells).
The soft tissue found inside some bones: the marrow can be highly vascular and a source of new blood cells (red marrow), although in some locations it later becomes replaced by fatty tissue (yellow marrow).
The outer limit of a system, partially separating it from everything else. In the case of the human body, the skin forms an important part of the boundary. However, the systems we study and have an interest in are open systems, meaning that exchanges take place between the system and its environment. Therefore, the boundary is not completely closed. Also, we sometimes 'draw' rather arbitrary boundaries around systems of interest - the boundary may not exist in a physical sense but by making the distinction we can then increase our understanding of what processes are going on. For example, we may make a distinction between Parliament and The People, although there is not a real boundary in this case.
The part of the central nervous system within the cranial cavity of the skull. The brain receives sensory information, processes and stores information, and initiates the motor activities of movement and glandular secretion.
This is a specialised type of fat tissue that is rich in mitochondria: it is able to mobilise the energy content of fat quickly. In doing so, it generates heat. Brown fat is important in newborn babies - it helps in temperature regulation. It is localised superficially in the neck, shoulder, and back regions, and more deeply around the kidneys and aorta.