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.

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).

Etymology

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

References

See also