Dear Ali Bio
The short arm of human chromosomes is referred to by the letter (p) as it comes from the French word ‘petit’ meaning small or short.
The long arm, however, is referred to by the letter (q) as q follows p in the Alphabet.
This is similarly used in the ECG; the initial short wave representing atrial contraction is referred to as 'p-wave'. The next complex wave is referred to as the "QRS-complex" representing ventricular contraction. The final wave is the T-wave, representing ventricular relaxation. So, there is an initial p-wave, which is short or small, followed by QRS and T waves, as these letters come next in the English Alphabet.
Some say the letter q comes from the word 'queue', which is sitting next in line one after the other. The former explanation is the accepted one.
Hope this answered your question.
Regards
Petite means short or small. Hence, the short arm is denoted by the term p - the first letter of petite. The alphabet after p is q. Hence the long arm is denoted by the letter q.
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