Congenital Abnormality
dwarfism
dwarf·ism [ dwawr-fiz-uhm ]
Subclass of:
Bone Diseases, Developmental;
Endocrine System Diseases;
Genetic Diseases, Inborn
Also called:
Little person
Definitions related to dwarfism:
-
A genetic or pathological condition that is characterized by short stature and undersize. Abnormal skeletal growth usually results in an adult who is significantly below the average height.NLM Medical Subject HeadingsU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
-
Condition of being undersized as a result of premature arrest of skeletal growth.CRISP ThesaurusNational Institutes of Health, 2006
-
People with dwarfism have short stature. This means that their height is under 4' 10" as an adult. They are usually of normal intelligence. Dwarfism most often does happen in families where both parents are of average height. More than 300 different conditions can cause dwarfism. Achondroplasia is the most common type of dwarfism. Achondroplasia is a genetic condition that affects about 1 in 15,000 to 1 in 40,000 people. It makes your arms and legs short in comparison to your head and trunk. You may also have a larger head and weak muscle tone. Other genetic conditions, kidney disease, and problems with metabolism or hormones can also cause dwarfism. The conditions that cause dwarfism can also cause other health problems. Most of them are treatable. It is important to have regular checkups throughout your life. With proper medical care, most people with dwarfism have active lives and live as long as other people.MedlinePlusU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
-
Short stature that usually results from genetic mutations. Other causes include hormonal deficiencies and poor nutrition.NCI ThesaurusU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
-
(severe short stature) A severe degree of short stature, more than -4 SD from the mean corrected for age and sex.Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO)The Human Phenotype Ontology Project, 2021
-
Dwarfism is short stature that results from a genetic or medical condition. Dwarfism is generally defined as an adult height of 4 feet 10 inches (147 centimeters) or less. The average adult height among people with dwarfism is 4 feet (122 cm).Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
-
Dwarfism is a condition that is characterized by short stature, usually resulting in an adult height of 4'10" or shorter. Dwarfism can and most often does occur in families where both parents are of average height. It can be caused by any one of more than 300 conditions, most of which are genetic. The most common type, accounting for 70%...National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
-
Dwarfism, condition of growth retardation resulting in abnormally short adult stature and caused by a variety of hereditary and metabolic disorders. Traditionally, the term "dwarf" was used to describe individuals with disproportions of body and limb, while "midget" referred to those of reduced...Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 2020
Return to OpenMD Medical Dictionary
> D
This content should not be used in place of medically-reviewed decision support reference material or professional medical advice. Some terms may have alternate or updated definitions not reflected in this set. The definitions on this page should not be considered complete or up to date.