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Once thought to have neurofibromatosis, Joseph Merrick (also known as "the elephant man") is now, in retrospect, thought by clinical experts to have had Proteus syndrome. This endocrine disease causes continued and abnormal growth of the bones, muscles, skin, and so on and can become completely debilitating with severe deformities occurring anywhere on the body.
Human neurons are so small that they require a microscope in order to be seen. However, some neurons can be up to 3 feet long, such as those that extend from the spinal cord to the toes.
Cancer has been around as long as humankind, but only in the second half of the twentieth century did the number of cancer cases explode.
Earwax has antimicrobial properties that reduce the viability of bacteria and fungus in the human ear.
In most cases, kidneys can recover from almost complete loss of function, such as in acute kidney (renal) failure.