"Las Meninas" in the clinical description of genetic disorders
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56294/sctconf2025644Keywords:
medicine in the art, Velázquez, meninas, medical education, diagnosis, physical examination, achondroplasia, Habsburg Syndrome, Laron Syndrome, McCune-Albright syndromeAbstract
Introduction: Las Meninas (The Family of Philip IV) continues being a topic of active research in the field of Medical Sciences. In this painting, three distinct planes can be differentiated, the foreground features the Infanta and her ladies-in-waiting and two court jesters along with a mastiff; and in the background, we find the image of the Monarchs reflected in a mirror.
Objectives: To analyze the characters portrayed in the foreground of "Las Meninas", using contemporary clinical genetics concepts. Additionally, it seeks to explore the potential genetic significance of the reflection of the royal couple in the mirror, highlighting its relevance in the era of Genomic Medicine.
Methods: A documentary research was conducted, identifying 47 documents through three independent searches in the following databases: PubMed/Medline, Google Scholar and OMIM. Moreover, recommendations from experts in the field were incorporated. Subsequently, two researchers scrutinized independently the articles in their entirety, and both concurred on the recommendation of the inclusion of 32 articles. After conducting a qualitative evaluation, a comprehensive review was generated.
Results: Within this painting, there are depicted clinical signs that are sufficient to suggest diagnoses of achondroplasia, Laron syndrome and McCune-Albright syndrome. Furthermore, it serves as an illustrative tool to distinguish the characteristics associated with autosomal dominant inheritance in the Habsburg Syndrome; the observation of this artwork provides an invaluable exercise for honing clinical skills.
Conclusions: In the foreground of the painting "Las Meninas," discernible clinical signs in the depicted characters lead us to propose dysmorphic disorders of genetic origin as potential diagnostic hypotheses.
The visual observation of Velázquez's genius, captured in this artwork is still decisive as part of the clinical examination in the diagnostic process, especially in the era of Genomic Medicine.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Estela Morales Peralta , Javier Gonzalez-Argote, Miguel Alfonso Alvarez Fornaris (Author)
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