MONOPHTHALMUS Meaning and
Definition
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Monophthalmus, often referred to as cyclopia, is a rare congenital condition characterized by the presence of a single eye in the center of the forehead. Derived from the Greek terms "mono" meaning one, and "ophthalmos" meaning eye, monophthalmus literally translates to "one eye."
Monophthalmus is an extremely rare occurrence in humans, being a result of abnormal development during embryogenesis. In affected individuals, the two eye orbits fail to properly separate, resulting in the fusion of the eye sockets and formation of a single eye. This anomaly is typically accompanied by other facial abnormalities, including a lack of a nose or a proboscis-like structure protruding from the forehead, a condition known as proboscis lateralis.
The condition is often associated with severe malformations and is not compatible with life. Infants born with monophthalmus typically have a significantly reduced chance of survival, as the condition is frequently accompanied by multiple other birth defects affecting critical systems of the body. It is believed that a combination of environmental and genetic factors contributes to the development of monophthalmus, although the specific causes remain unclear.
Scientists and medical professionals have extensively studied monophthalmus to gain a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms of human embryonic development and the factors that can lead to such rare anomalies. While monophthalmus remains a tragic and uncommon occurrence, advancements in medical research continue to shed light on this condition, helping to improve patient outcomes and potentially uncover preventive measures.
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A monster with one eye, cyclops, monops.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for MONOPHTHALMUS
- monophthalm5s
- monophthalmes
- monophthalmqs
- monophthalmws
- monophthalmts
- monophthalmu3
- monophthalmuc
- monophthalmuq
- monophthalmur
- moknowphthalmus
- m onophthalmus
- mo nophthalmus
- mon ophthalmus
- monoph thalmus
- monopht halmus
- monophth almus
- monophtha lmus
- monophthal mus
- monophthalm us
- monophthalmu s
Etymology of MONOPHTHALMUS
The word monophthalmus is a compound word derived from Greek roots. It consists of two parts: mono-, meaning one or single, and ophthalmus, meaning eye. Therefore, monophthalmus in Greek literally translates to one-eyed or single-eyed.
