Teratogenesis
Teratogenesis (pronounced: te-rat-o-gen-e-sis) is a medical term that refers to the process of abnormal development in embryos, leading to physical malformations or functional abnormalities. The term is derived from the Greek words "teras" meaning monster and "genesis" meaning origin or creation.
Etymology
The term "Teratogenesis" is derived from the Greek words "teras" which means monster and "genesis" which means origin or creation. It was first used in the medical field in the late 19th century to describe the process of abnormal development in embryos.
Definition
Teratogenesis is the process by which congenital malformations or birth defects occur in an embryo or fetus. These abnormalities can be structural, functional, or both and can occur at any stage of gestation. They are typically caused by exposure to certain environmental factors, such as drugs, chemicals, or radiation, during pregnancy.
Causes
The causes of teratogenesis can be broadly classified into genetic and environmental factors. Genetic factors include chromosomal abnormalities and gene mutations. Environmental factors, also known as teratogens, include exposure to certain drugs, chemicals, or radiation during pregnancy.
Related Terms
- Teratogen: An agent or factor that causes malformation of an embryo.
- Congenital disorder: A condition that is present at birth, regardless of its cause.
- Embryo: An early stage in the development of a multicellular organism.
- Fetus: A stage in human development that follows the embryonic stage and continues until birth.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Teratogenesis
- Wikipedia's article - Teratogenesis
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski