Cyclopia, spelled /saɪˈkloʊpiə/, is a rare congenital disorder characterized by the development of only one eye in the center of the forehead. The word "cyclopia" is derived from the Greek mythological character Cyclops, a one-eyed giant. The phonetic transcription represents the pronunciation of the word. The first syllable is stressed and pronounced as "sai". The second syllable consists of a short "o" sound followed by "low" and "pia" sounding like "pee-uh". It is important to accurately spell medical terminology to avoid potential misunderstandings or errors in diagnosis and treatment.
Cyclopia is a medical condition characterized by the presence of a single, centrally positioned eye on the forehead, along with the absence or fusion of the nose and the abnormal development of the brain. It is an extremely rare congenital (present at birth) disorder that occurs during early embryonic development due to various genetic abnormalities and environmental factors.
Typically, cyclopia is caused by a failure of the developing brain to divide into separate hemispheres, a phenomenon known as holoprosencephaly. This abnormal development results in the fusion of the eye sockets and the formation of a single eye, often accompanied by varying degrees of facial deformities, such as a lack of a nose or the presence of an abnormal proboscis (a nose-like projection).
Individuals with cyclopia are often born with other significant abnormalities, including cleft lip and palate, as well as defects in the heart, lungs, and other organs. Due to the severity of the condition, cyclopia is typically incompatible with life, with affected infants usually dying shortly after birth or in utero.
The word "cyclopia" is derived from the Greek mythological creature called "Cyclops," which were renowned for having a single eye in the middle of their forehead. This term is now exclusively used within the medical field to describe the rare and severe birth defect characterized by the presence of an individual eye.
The word "cyclopia" is derived from the Greek words "kyklos" meaning "circle" and "ops" meaning "eye" or "face". In Greek mythology, Cyclops were giant beings with only one eye in the center of their forehead, which explains the origin of the term.