Deformity
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A deformity, dysmorphism, or dysmorphic feature is a major abnormality of an organism that makes a part of the body appear or function differently than how it is supposed to.
Causes
Deformity can be caused by a variety of factors:
- Arthritis and other rheumatoid disorders
- Chronic application of external forces, e.g. artificial cranial deformation
- Chronic poliomyelitis or cerebral palsy
- Complications at birth
- Damage to the fetus or uterus
- Fractured bones left to heal without being properly set (malunion)
- Genetic mutation
- Growth or hormone disorders
- Skin disorders
- Reconstructive surgery following a severe injury, e.g. burn injury
Deformity can occur in all organisms:
- ) infection.
- Plants can undergo irreversible cell deformation[1]
- Insects, such as honeybees, can be affected by deformed wing virus
- Fish can be found with scoliosis due to environmental factors[2]
Mortality
In many cases where a major deformity is present at birth, it is the result of an underlying condition severe enough that the baby does not survive very long. The mortality of severely deformed births may be due to a range of complications including missing or non-functioning vital organs, structural defects that prevent necessary function, high susceptibility to injuries, abnormal facial appearance, or infections that eventually lead to death.
In some cases, such as that of twins, one fetus is brought to term healthy, while the other faces major, even life-threatening defects. An example of this is seen in cattle, referred to as amorphous globosus.
In mythology
There are many instances of
- Descriptions of mermaids may be related to the symptoms of sirenomelia.
- The , etc.) or having larger than normal limbs.
- Hephaestus, of Greek Mythology, was born with a club foot.[4]
See also
- Birth defect
- Body dysmorphic disorder
- Congenital abnormality
- Disfigurement
- Genetic variation
- Malformation
- Monstrous birth
- Phocomelia
- Polymelia
- Teratology
References
- PMID 16656691.
- ^ "Body Deformities". Regional Aquatics Monitoring Program (RAMP). Alberta Environment and Parks Environmental Monitoring and Science Division. Retrieved 2022-03-19.
- PMID 17104128.
- PMID 9382134.
Further reading
- Hogan CM (2010). "Mutation". In Monosson E, Cleveland CJ (eds.). Encyclopedia of Earth. Washington DC: National Council for Science and the Environment. Archived from the original on 2011-04-30.