Feature of fabaceae family
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Fabaceae family characteristics features botany
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Here is a thorough breakdown of the features of the Fabaceae (Leguminosae) family:
Fabaceae Family - Key Features
General Facts
- Commonly called the legume, pea, or bean family
- The third-largest flowering plant family with ~765 genera and nearly 20,000 species
- Includes trees, shrubs, vines, herbs, and lianas
- Widely distributed across all biomes worldwide
1. Habit
- Highly variable: annual/perennial herbs, shrubs, climbers (twiners), and large trees
- Some are aquatic or semi-aquatic; most are terrestrial
- Woody stems 1-5 cm in diameter in vines; some lianas have flattened stems with successive cambia
2. Leaves
- Alternate, compound, and stipulate (always with stipules - a key diagnostic feature)
- Usually pinnately compound (even- or odd-pinnate) or bipinnately compound
- Trifoliate leaves common in herbaceous members (e.g., Trifolium, clover)
- Pulvinus (swollen leaf base) present, allowing leaf movement (nyctinasty)
- Leaflets may have pulvinules (e.g., Mimosa pudica - touch-me-not)
- Leaf tip may be modified into tendrils for climbing (e.g., Lathyrus, Pisum)
3. Flowers
- Usually bisexual (hermaphroditic)
- 5 sepals, usually fused (calyx campanulate or tubular), often with lobes of unequal length
- 5 petals, free
- Arranged in indeterminate inflorescences (racemes, spikes, or heads)
- Typically entomophilous (insect-pollinated) with showy flowers
Floral symmetry varies by subfamily:
| Subfamily | Symmetry | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Faboideae (Papilionoideae) | Zygomorphic (bilateral) | Pea, Bean, Lathyrus |
| Caesalpinioideae | Slightly zygomorphic | Cassia, Bauhinia |
| Mimosoideae (now tribe Mimoseae) | Actinomorphic (radial) | Mimosa, Acacia |
Papilionaceous (butterfly-like) corolla in Faboideae:
- Standard (Vexillum) - large, broad upper petal
- Wings (Alae) - 2 lateral petals
- Keel (Carina) - 2 lower petals, usually fused, enclosing stamens and style
4. Androecium (Stamens)
- Usually 10 stamens
- In Faboideae: diadelphous (9 fused + 1 free) - a classic feature
- In Mimosoideae: numerous, free, often brightly colored (the showy part of the flower)
- In Caesalpinioideae: 10 or fewer, often free
5. Gynoecium (Pistil)
- 1 carpel (monocarpellary), superior ovary
- Unilocular (single chambered) with marginal placentation
- Style curved or spirally twisted; stigma terminal and small
- Ovules: 1 to many
6. Fruit
- Characteristic legume (pod) - a simple, dry fruit derived from a single carpel
- Dehisces along two sutures (both dorsal and ventral), releasing seeds
- Variations:
- Lomentum - constricted between seeds, breaking into 1-seeded segments (Desmodium)
- Samara - winged, indehiscent (Dalbergia)
- Drupe-like - fleshy (Tamarindus)
- Indehiscent pods (Arachis - groundnut, matures underground)
7. Seeds
- Large seeds with two prominent cotyledons (dicotyledonous)
- No endosperm at maturity (food stored in cotyledons)
- Prominent hilum (scar) on the seed coat
- Hard seed coat (testa) - often requires scarification for germination
8. Root System - Nitrogen Fixation
- One of the most ecologically important features
- Root nodules containing symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria (Rhizobium, Bradyrhizobium)
- Converts atmospheric N₂ into ammonia - makes the family vital for soil fertility and agriculture
9. Chemistry
- Contain alkaloids, flavonoids (kaempferol, quercetin), and proanthocyanidins
- Many produce pterocarpans (isoflavonoid derivatives) - found almost exclusively in this family
- Some contain antinutrients (lectins, tannins, protease inhibitors) - removed by cooking/processing
- Sugars transported as sucrose; C3 photosynthesis is predominant
10. Floral Formula (Faboideae)
⊕ K(5) C1+2+(2) A(9)+1 G1
Or written as: % K(5) C5 A(9+1) G1 (zygomorphic)
Economic Importance
- Food: Pea (Pisum sativum), Bean (Phaseolus), Lentil (Lens), Soybean (Glycine max), Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea), Chickpea (Cicer arietinum)
- Fodder: Clover (Trifolium), Alfalfa (Medicago sativa)
- Timber: Rosewood (Dalbergia), Teak-like woods
- Dyes/Medicines: Indigo (Indigofera), Licorice (Glycyrrhiza)
- Ornamentals: Sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus), Wisteria, Cassia
The Fabaceae family is distinguished above all by three features together: compound stipulate leaves + legume fruit + diadelphous stamens (in Faboideae). The root nodule nitrogen-fixation system makes it one of the most agriculturally and ecologically significant plant families on Earth. Sources: Florida Wildflower Foundation, Britannica, Wikipedia - Fabaceae.
Metrorrhagia
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metrorrhagia causes diagnosis management clinical features
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metrorrhagia definition causes PALM-COEIN classification treatment gynecology
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https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/gynecology-and-obs…
Here is a complete clinical overview of Metrorrhagia:
Metrorrhagia
Definition
Metrorrhagia is defined as uterine bleeding occurring at irregular intervals, between normal menstrual periods (intermenstrual bleeding). The bleeding is irregular in timing and may vary in amount.
Important Note on Terminology: FIGO (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics) no longer recommends the term "metrorrhagia." Since 2011, it has been replaced by "Intermenstrual Bleeding (IMB)" under the modern PALM-COEIN classification system for Abnormal Uterine Bleeding (AUB). The older terms (menorrhagia, metrorrhagia, menometrorrhagia, DUB) are considered obsolete.
Distinction from Related Terms
| Old Term | Modern Term | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Metrorrhagia | Intermenstrual bleeding (IMB) | Bleeding between periods, at irregular intervals |
| Menorrhagia | Heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) | Excessive bleeding during periods (>80 mL) |
| Menometrorrhagia | AUB - heavy + irregular | Heavy, prolonged AND irregular bleeding |
| Polymenorrhea | Frequent menstruation | Cycle interval < 24 days |
| Oligomenorrhea | Infrequent menstruation | Cycle interval > 38 days |
Types of Intermenstrual Bleeding (IMB)
- Random - occurs unpredictably at any point in the cycle
- Cyclic - predictable; occurs at early, mid, or late cycle (e.g., mid-cycle spotting at ovulation = "Mittelschmerz bleeding")
Causes - PALM-COEIN Classification
Structural Causes (PALM)
| Cause | Notes |
|---|---|
| Polyp (P) - Endometrial or cervical polyp | Most common structural cause of IMB; hyperplastic overgrowth of endometrial tissue |
| Adenomyosis (A) | Endometrial glands within myometrium; boggy uterus |
| Leiomyoma (L) - Uterine fibroids | Especially submucosal fibroids distort the endometrial cavity |
| Malignancy & Hyperplasia (M) | Endometrial carcinoma, cervical carcinoma - must be excluded in all cases |
Non-Structural Causes (COEIN)
| Cause | Notes |
|---|---|
| Coagulopathy (C) | Von Willebrand disease (most common), thrombocytopenia, liver disease |
| Ovulatory dysfunction (O) | PCOS, hypothyroidism, hyperprolactinemia, perimenopause, extreme weight changes, stress |
| Endometrial (E) | Primary endometrial dysfunction in a structurally normal uterus (diagnosis of exclusion) |
| Iatrogenic (I) | OCP use (breakthrough bleeding), IUDs, anticoagulants, antipsychotics (via hyperprolactinemia) |
| Not yet classified (N) | Caesarean scar defect, uterine arteriovenous malformations (AVM) |
Other Specific Causes
- Cervicitis / endometritis (infection - Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea)
- Ectopic pregnancy (must always be excluded)
- Cervical ectropion (eversion of columnar epithelium onto ectocervix - common in young women, OCP users)
- Trauma (post-coital bleeding - often from cervical cause)
- Ovulation bleeding (mid-cycle spotting due to estrogen drop at ovulation)
- Atrophic vaginitis (postmenopausal)
Clinical Evaluation
History
- Characterize bleeding: timing, amount, color, clots, duration
- Last menstrual period (LMP)
- Cycle regularity
- Pregnancy status (always exclude first)
- Contraceptive use
- Sexual history (post-coital bleeding?)
- Symptoms of thyroid disease, PCOS, bleeding disorders
- Cervical smear history
Physical Examination
- General: pallor (anemia), features of PCOS (hirsutism, acne, obesity), thyroid enlargement
- Pelvic examination: cervical appearance (polyp, ectropion, contact bleeding), uterine size/contour, adnexal masses
- Speculum + bimanual examination
Investigations
| Investigation | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Urine/serum βhCG | Exclude pregnancy (first priority) |
| CBC + ferritin | Assess for anemia |
| Coagulation screen | Especially if bleeding since menarche |
| TFTs (TSH) | Thyroid disease |
| Prolactin | Hyperprolactinemia |
| Androgens (testosterone, DHEAS) | PCOS |
| Cervical smear + STI swabs | Infection, cervical pathology |
| Transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) | First-line imaging - polyps, fibroids, endometrial thickness |
| Hysteroscopy + endometrial biopsy | Gold standard for intracavitary pathology; mandatory if >45 yrs or risk factors for endometrial cancer |
| Saline infusion sonography (SIS) | Better delineation of intracavitary lesions |
Management
Management is directed at the underlying cause:
Medical
- Tranexamic acid - antifibrinolytic; reduces bleeding acutely
- NSAIDs (e.g., mefenamic acid) - for ovulatory IMB
- Combined oral contraceptive pill (COCP) - regulates cycle, reduces bleeding
- Levonorgestrel IUS (Mirena) - first-line for structural causes; reduces endometrial proliferation
- Progestogens (norethisterone) - for anovulatory/dysfunctional bleeding
- GnRH agonists - short-term for fibroids (pre-operative downsizing)
- Treat underlying cause: antibiotics for infection, thyroid replacement, dopamine agonists for hyperprolactinemia
Surgical
- Hysteroscopic polypectomy - for endometrial/cervical polyps
- Myomectomy - for symptomatic fibroids (fertility-sparing)
- Endometrial ablation - for completed family, no structural pathology
- Uterine artery embolization (UAE) - for fibroids
- Hysterectomy - definitive treatment when medical/conservative measures fail, or malignancy
Key Red Flags (Urgent Referral)
- Age >45 years with IMB
- Postmenopausal bleeding (any amount)
- Post-coital bleeding persisting
- Failed medical treatment
- Thickened endometrium on ultrasound (>4 mm postmenopausal; >12 mm premenopausal)
- Abnormal cervical smear
Summary
Metrorrhagia (now called intermenstrual bleeding) is abnormal uterine bleeding occurring between regular menstrual periods. It is a symptom, not a diagnosis, and requires systematic evaluation using the PALM-COEIN framework to identify the underlying structural or non-structural cause. Malignancy must always be excluded, especially in women over 45. Sources: Merck Manual - AUB, AMBOSS - AUB, FIGO PALM-COEIN.
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