Vestigial twin

Vestigial Twin

Vestigial Twin (pronunciation: ves-tij-ee-uhl twin) is a medical term referring to a phenomenon where one twin is underdeveloped and dependent on the other, fully developed twin. The term originates from the Latin word "vestigium" meaning footprint, and the Old Norse word "tvennr" meaning double.

Definition

A Vestigial Twin is a form of Parasitic Twinning, a specific type of conjoined twinning, where one twin is less formed and is wholly dependent on the other twin. The vestigial twin may be attached to the fully formed twin in various locations and may consist of a single organ, a complete body part, or a more complex combination of body parts.

Symptoms

Symptoms of a vestigial twin can vary greatly depending on the size and location of the twin. In some cases, the vestigial twin may not cause any symptoms and may only be discovered during a medical examination for another condition. In other cases, the vestigial twin may cause discomfort, pain, or other health issues.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of a vestigial twin is typically made through medical imaging techniques such as ultrasound, MRI, or CT scan. These imaging studies can help to determine the size, location, and complexity of the vestigial twin.

Treatment

Treatment for a vestigial twin depends on the size, location, and complexity of the twin, as well as the symptoms it is causing. In some cases, no treatment may be necessary. In other cases, surgical removal of the vestigial twin may be recommended.

Related Terms

External links

Medical encyclopedia article on Vestigial twin
Wikipedia's article - Vestigial twin

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