Bent or twisted outward away from the midline or body; modern accepted usage, particularly in orthopedics, erroneously transposes the meaning of varus to v., as in genu valgum (knock-knee). [Mod. L. turned outward, fr. L. bowlegged]
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val·gus 'val-gəs adj
1) turned outward esp of, relating to, or being a deformity in which an anatomical part is turned outward away from the midline of the body to an abnormal degree <a \valgus heel> <\valgus deformity of the big toe> see CUBITUS VALGUS, HALLUX VALGUS, TALIPES VALGUS compare GENU VALGUM, GENU VARUM
2) varus (1) used esp. in orthopedics of the knee <changes spontaneously from the initial varus (bowing) to a \valgus position (knock-knee) at about age 2 to 3 (Joan M. Walker)>
valgus n
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adj.
describing any deformity that displaces the distal end of a limb away from the midline. See club-foot, hallux valgus, knock-knee. Compare varus.
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val·gus (valґgəs) [L.] bent or twisted outward; denoting a deformity in which the angulation of the part is away from the midline of the body; the term is an adjective and should be used only in connection with the noun it describes, such as talipes valgus, genu valgum, and coxa valga. The meanings of valgus and varus are often reversed, so that genu valgum is knock-knee, not bowleg. Cf. varus.Medical dictionary. 2011.