Main Entry: Lau·rence–Moon–Biedl syndrome

Pronunciation: \ˈlȯr-ən(t)s-ˈmün-ˈbēd-^əl-, ˈlär-\

Function: noun

: an inherited disorder affecting especially males and characterized by obesity, mental retardation, the presence of extra fingers or toes, subnormal development of the genital organs, and sometimes by retinitis pigmentosa

Laurence, John Zachariah (1830–1874), British physician, and Moon, Robert Charles (1844–1914), American ophthalmologist. Laurence and Moon were the coauthors of the first description of the Laurence-Moon-Biedl syndrome. Their 1866 description was based on four cases of retinitis pigmentosa occurring in the same family.

Biedl, Artur (1869–1933), German physician. Biedl published a description of the syndrome in 1922 that elaborated upon the earlier description by Laurence and Moon. Biedl is best known for his classic work (1910) on endocrine secretion in which he established that the adrenal cortex is essential for life.