Category: Malformation

𝐄𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐬 is a congenital disease where the heart is formed in an unusual place, such as in the neck region, a strange position in the thorax, or even in the abdomen. Weird!

A fetal monster is a severely malformed fetus, that is either causes by an infectious disease or a congenital defect. 𝐀𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐬𝐮𝐬 is a unique type of fetal monster where the fetus forms a round ball of connective tissue and fat, with a haired skin covering. Sometimes, even cartilage and bone can be found within the mass. There is typically no circulatory system or heart in these specimens.

Hydrocephalus is the abnormal accumulation of fluid in the cranial cavity, in most cases within the brain’s 𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐬 (spaces where the cerebrospinal fluid flows within the brain).

𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐨- refers to the peritoneum, which is the membrane that lines the abdomen. 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐥 refers to the pericardium, the membrane sac that covers the heart. 𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐚𝐬 are when some part of the intestinal tract or abdominal organs 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 (protrudes) through the 𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐦, the muscular border between the abdomen and thorax that aids in breathing. So putting it all together, we have a hernia of abdominal organs through the diaphragm, due to a connection between the peritoneum and pericardium. Weird!

Wobblers syndrome’s proper name is 𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐦𝐲𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐲, and it is a common cause of 𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐱𝐢𝐚 (irregular gait due to neurologic issues) in horses. The main problem in Wobblers is compression of the spinal cord due to an irregular shape or positioning of 𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐞 (the bones in the neck).