Phocomelia Health Dictionary

This consists of defects in the distal part of the extremities: for example, the absence of a forearm or hand. Hemimelia is a congenital defect; large numbers of cases resulted from the administration of THALIDOMIDE during pregnancy (see also PHOCOMELIA; TERATOGENESIS).... hemimelia

A sedative and hypnotic drug long withdrawn from the market because it causes TERATOGENESIS. If taken during the ?rst trimester of pregnancy it may cause an unusual limb deformity in the fetus known as phocomelia (‘seal’ or ‘?ipper’ extremities).... thalidomide

Absent or severely reduced growth and development of any organ or tissue.

For example, in bone marrow aplasia, the rate of cell division in the bone marrow is reduced, leading to insufficient blood-cell production (see anaemia, aplastic).

Some birth defects, such as stunted limbs (see phocomelia), occur as a result of incomplete tissue formation during prenatal development.... aplasia

Incomplete development of one or more limbs at birth.

Limb defects are rare and may be inherited or form part of a syndrome.

In a condition called phocomelia, hands, feet, or tiny finger- or toe-buds are attached to limb stumps or grow directly from the trunk.

The sedative drug thalidomide, when taken by pregnant women, is known to have caused phocomelia in fetuses.... limb defects

n. congenital total absence of the arms or legs due to a developmental defect. It is one of the fetal abnormalities induced by the drug *thalidomide taken early in pregnancy. See also phocomelia.... amelia

n. congenital absence or gross shortening (aplasia) of the long bones of one or more limbs. See also amelia; hemimelia; phocomelia.... ectromelia