phocomelia
/ˌfəʊkə(ʊ)ˈmiːlɪə
/noun [mass noun] Medicine
A rare congenital deformity in which the hands or feet are attached close to the trunk, the limbs being grossly underdeveloped or absent. This condition was a side effect of the drug thalidomide taken during early pregnancy.Cases of phocomelia in the early 1960's in Germany and Australia led to the identification of thalidomide as a human teratogen....
- The most well-known defect, a severe shortening of the arms or legs with flipper-like hands or feet, is called phocomelia.
- This was in spite of such FDA victories as the ban of thalidomide, which caused phocomelia in more than 8000 babies in Europe, where the drug was freely used.
Origin
Late 19th century: modern Latin, from Greek phōkē 'seal' + melos 'limb'.
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