Cloacal exstrophy

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Cloacal exstrophy is a severe birth defect wherein much of the abdominal organs (the bladder and intestines) are exposed. It often causes the splitting of both male and female genitalia (specifically, the penis and clitoris respectively), and the anus is occasionally sealed.

It is extremely rare at only 1 in 250,000 births being afflicted with it.

It is caused by a defect of the ventral body wall - mesodermal migration is inhibited and folding fails.

[edit] See also

• Bladder exstrophy

[edit] External links

• Overview at luc.edu
• eMedicine ped/2924