Meromelia

Meromelia is a birth defect characterized by the lacking of a part, but not all, of one or more limbs with the presence of a hand or foot. It results in a shrunken and deformed extremity. [1]

Cause

Such defects are caused mainly by genetic factors, but some teratogenic (or environmental) factors have been identified, such as the use of thalidomide in the 1957-62 for morning-sickness (nausea). [1]

Etymology

Gk, meros ("part") + melia ("limb")

References

  1. 1 2 Sadler, T. W. Langman's Medial Embryology Eleventh Ed.. LWW, p. 140.

See also

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