Asymmetry of body parts can be observed both in normal and pathological conditions. A small congenital or acquired disproportion that does not cause functional and aesthetic disorders is considered acceptable. At the same time, the sudden asymmetry of the face, limbs and body parts often indicates the development of serious diseases. Diagnosis is carried out using physical techniques, instrumental visualization methods (X-ray, CT, ultrasound). Serious signs requiring urgent medical attention are facial asymmetry in stroke, joints in injuries, limbs in lymphedema, shoulders and shoulder blades in scoliosis, etc.
The asymmetric arrangement of individual organs and body parts does not always indicate the presence of a disease. So, most people have asymmetrical facial features. In right-handers, the right half of the body is more developed than the left, the right arm and leg are often longer, stronger, with more developed muscles (functional asymmetry). A normal anatomical phenomenon is the asymmetric location of the kidneys, testicles in the scrotum in men, mammary glands in women with unchanged structure and function of organs.
However, it is not uncommon for asymmetry to develop due to various pathological causes. This phenomenon is referred to as "hemihypertrophy". Disproportion of body parts is often present in people with congenital weakness of the connective tissue, diseases of the musculoskeletal system, nervous and muscular systems, occupational hazards (long stay in a forced position). For some pathological conditions, external changes in the form of asymmetry of certain parts of the body are pathognomonic: