phocomelia

pho·co·me·li·a  (fk-ml-, -mly)

n.

A birth defect in which the upper portion of a limb is absent or poorly developed, so that the hand or foot attaches to the body by a short, flipperlike stump.

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[New Latin phcomelia : Greek phk, seal + Greek melos, limb.]

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phocomelia, phocomely

a deformity, usually congenital, in which the extremities of the limbs are abnormally short.

See also: Body, Human

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

phocomelia - an abnormality of development in which the upper part of an arm or leg is missing so the hands or feet are attached to the body like stumps; rare condition that results from taking thalidomide during pregnancy seal limbs meromelia - congenital absence of part of an arm or leg