Congenital absence or severe narrowing of a body opening or tubular organ, due to a failure of development in the uterus.
Examples are biliary atresia, in which the bile duct between the liver and duodenum are absent; oesophageal atresia, in which the oesophagus comes to a blind end; and anal atresia (see anus, imperforate), in which the anal canal is shut off.
Most forms of atresia require surgical correction early in life.
The absence of a natural opening, or closure of it by a membrane. Thus atresia may be found in newborn infants, preventing the bowels from moving. In young girls after puberty, absence of the menstrual ?ow may be due to such a malformation at the entrance to the VAGINA.
n. 1. congenital absence or abnormal narrowing of a body opening. See biliary atresia; duodenal atresia; tricuspid atresia. 2. the degenerative process that affects the majority of ovarian follicles. Usually only one Graafian follicle will ovulate in each menstrual cycle. —atretic adj.
A rare birth defect in which the oesophagus forms into 2 separate, blind-ended sections during development. There is usually an abnormal channel (tracheoesophageal fistula) between one of the sections and the trachea. The condition may be suspected before birth if the mother had polyhydramnios. The infant cannot swallow, and drools and regurgitates milk continually. If there is an upper tracheoesophageal fistula, milk may be sucked into the lungs, provoking attacks of coughing and cyanosis. Immediate surgery is needed to join the blind ends of the oesophagus and close the fistula. If the operation is successful, the baby should develop normally. Some babies, however, do not survive.... oesophageal atresia
a condition in which there is congenital narrowing of the duodenum causing complete obstruction. It presents at birth with vomiting, which is usually bile-stained, and is associated with other congenital abnormalities, particularly *Down’s syndrome. Treatment is by restoration of any fluid and electrolyte loss followed by surgical repair.... duodenal atresia
a rare form of congenital heart disease in which there is no communication between the right atrium and the right ventricle. Affected babies present with *cyanosis, breathlessness, particularly on feeding, and *failure to thrive. Diagnosis is by *echocardiography. Treatment involves surgical intervention, but the prognosis is often poor.... tricuspid atresia
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