Strophosomia is a severe form of congenital ventral fissure, all abdominal and thoracic viscera being free in the uterus. It is an extreme case of celosomia.

In humans

It is a very rare

dysmorphic feature A dysmorphic feature is an abnormal difference in body structure. It can be an isolated finding in an otherwise normal individual, or it can be related to a congenital disorder, Genetics, genetic syndrome or birth defect. Dysmorphology is the stud ...

in humans.

In farm animals

The condition occurs regularly in calves and lambs. The spine is flexed 180° so that the caudal region is near the neck, in so-called ''Schizosoma reflexum''.R(oger) Hanset, ''Cours de tératologie (vétérinaire)'', student-made edition, University of Liège, undated (circa 1970); the author often refers to

Isidore Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire Isidore Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire (16 December 1805 – 10 November 1861) was a French zoologist and an authority on deviation from normal structure. In 1854 he coined the term ''éthologie'' (ethology). Biography He was born in Paris, the son ...

. Vea monse boyeas foû strophosomia.jpg, in a calve Vea monse boyeas foû strophosomia2.jpg, in an other calve Vea monse et pureure.jpg, with placenta, after cesarian section; viscera had been removed by a former obstetrician Vea monse organes foû rissaetchîs.jpg, same case, showing total bending of spinal cord Agnea monse wi.jpg, in a lamb During the obstetrical operations, the viscera are reached first, but the four limbs fold backwards may be barely accessible. Agnlaedje_monse

Cesarian section Caesarean section, also known as C-section or caesarean delivery, is the surgical procedure by which one or more babies are delivered through an incision in the mother's abdomen, often performed because vaginal delivery would put the baby or mo ...

is often required in

cow Cattle (''Bos taurus'') are large, domesticated, cloven-hooved, herbivores. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae and the most widespread species of the genus ''Bos''. Adult females are referred to as cows and adult ma ...

s. Fetotomy can resolve the condition in ewes.

References

Animal developmental biology Congenital disorders {{vet-stub