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Short Limbs (short + limb)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Life Sciences	60%
Medical Sciences	40%

Selected Abstracts

Phenotypic diagnosis of dwarfism in six Friesian horses

EQUINE VETERINARY JOURNAL, Issue 3 2008
W. BACK
Summary An extreme form of abnormal development, dwarfism, is common in man and some animals, but has not been officially reported in horses. Within the Friesian horse breed, congenital dwarfism has been recognised for many years, but no detailed report exists on its phenotype. The most salient feature of the dwarf syndrome is the physeal growth retardation in both limbs and ribs. Affected animals have approximately 25% shorter fore- and hindlimbs and approximately 50% reduced bodyweight. Post natal growth is still possible in these animals, albeit at a slower rate: the head and back grow faster than the limbs and ribs leading to the characteristic disproportional growth disturbance. Thus, mature dwarfs exhibit a normal, but a relatively larger head conformation, a broader chest with narrowing at the costochondral junction, a disproportionally long back, abnormally short limbs, hyperextension of the fetlocks and narrow long-toed hooves. Furthermore, a dysplastic metaphysis of the distal metacarpus and metatarsus is radiographically evident. Microscopic analysis of the growth plates at the costochondral junction shows an irregular transition from cartilage to bone, and thickening and disturbed formation of chondrocyte columns, which is similar to findings in osteochondrodysplasia. [source]

Autopsy case of thanatophoric dysplasia: Observations on the serial sections of the brain

NEUROPATHOLOGY, Issue 3 2001
Katsuyuki Yamaguchi
The neuropathological findings in an autopsy case of thanatophoric dysplasia (TD) with serial sections of the brain are described here. This patient was a female infant, born at 33 weeks gestation, who died on day 1. Skeletal anomalies, consisting of short limbs, a small thorax, short ribs, thick cortical vertebral body substance and sternum substance, and hypoplastic lungs, were compatible with typical phenotypic features of TD. The brain weighed 370 g, showing a cloverleaf megalencephaly. A computerized 3-D reconstruction technique visualized clearly abnormal deep sulci arranged perpendicular to the neuraxis on the inferior surface of the temporal lobe, and peculiar configurational changes of the lateral ventricle. In particular, the inferior horn showed an unusual complex form. Dysgenetic changes were largely located in the anterior temporal lobe as follows: cortical polymicrogyria; leptomeningeal heterotopia with discontinuity of the subpial basement membrane; serpentine arrangement of pyramidal cells of the cornu ammonis (CA)1 of the hippocampus; hypoplastic dentate gyrus; hyperplasia of the amygdaloid body; and heterotopic nodules of neuroblasts or glioblasts in the periventricular white matter. Apart from the temporal lobe, the cerebral pia mater showed unusual fusion of two facing sheets in a sulcus and ectopia of nerve cells, and the cerebellar vermis was small. The findings observed here indicate that overgrowth and lack of growth can coexist in the TD brain, suggesting that some interaction(s) between the mesenchyme and the nervous tissue may play a role in normal differentiation of these two cell lines. [source]

Prenatal diagnosis of a fetus with androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS)

PRENATAL DIAGNOSIS, Issue 9 2007
Ahmet Yalinkaya
Abstract Objective The aim of this study is to describe a fetus with androgen insensitivity syndrome diagnosed at mid-second trimester. Case and Methods Nuchal translucency was measured thick and double test was found higher. The patient referred to our center at 16th weeks of gestation. Fetal ultrasound examination and amniocentesis was performed. Results The nuchal translucency (NT) of fetus in present pregnancy was measured approximately 10 mm at 13 weeks and Down syndrome risk was calculated 1 in 10 by double test. On ultrasound examination; thick nuchal fold (NF) and short fetal limbs were found, and the fetus was seen a female and amniocentesis was performed. Three weeks later the fetal karyotype was reported normal as 46,XY. Thereupon the fetus reexamined for 2D and 4D ultrasound, and confirmed previous findings. The fetus was terminated at 19th weeks and seen a female phenotype. The fetal gonads removed in abdomen and testicles confirmed histopatologically. Conclusion In generally, diagnosis of AIS is most made postnatally. This is the second case in English literature, which diagnosed mid-second trimester. In this situation, the fetus with thick NT/NF and short limbs may be AIS, therefore appearance of fetal sex on ultrasound should be compared with genetic sex Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

The Lingual Dorsal Surface of the Blue-Tongue Skink (Tiliqua scincoides)

ANATOMIA, HISTOLOGIA, EMBRYOLOGIA, Issue 5 2009
F. Abbate
Summary The blue-tongue lizard (Tiliqua scincoides) is a variety of large skink common throughout Australia. There are seven species of Tiliqua and all of them have long bodies, short limbs and short and robust tails. T. scincoides occurs in a wide range of habitats; its diet is omnivorous. When threatened, it opens the mouth and protrudes its characteristic large fleshy cobalt blue tongue. It is currently found as a popular species and also as a pet animal in the European countries. No data are available in literature about the morphology of the tongue of T. scincoides; therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate by means of scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy, the anatomy of the dorsal lingual surface. Our results demonstrate the presence of a tongue tip with a smooth surface without papillae. The foretongue was characterized by a stratified epithelium with foliate-like papillae and deep inter-papillar spaces in the middle part and cylindrical papillae with a flat surface in the lateral parts. All the posterior area of the tongue was characterized by more compacted papillae and the inter-papillar spaces were very narrow. Light microscopy showed the presence of melanin throughout the tongue. No taste buds were recognized on the lingual dorsal surface. Therefore, the papillae probably have a mechanical function showing an important role in the swallowing phase. The morphology of the tongue surface can be correlated to the diet and, different roles, as in other examined species, can be hypothesized for different areas. [source]

The relationship between limb morphology, kinematics, and force during running: the evolution of locomotor dynamics in lizards

BIOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY, Issue 3 2009
ERIC J. MCELROY
Terrestrial locomotion occurs via the hierarchical links between morphology, kinematics, force, and center-of-mass mechanics. In a phylogenetically broad sample of seven lizard species, we show that morphological variation drives kinematic variation, which, in turn, drives force variation. Species with short limbs use a short stride,high frequency strategy when running at steady-speed and to change speeds. This link between morphology and kinematics results in relatively small vertical forces during the support phase of the stride cycle. Conversely, species with long limbs use a long stride,low frequency strategy, resulting in large vertical forces during the support phase. In view of these findings, we suggest that limb length may predict locomotor energetics in lizards because energetics are largely determined by vertical forces and stride frequency. Additionally, we propose an energetic trade-off with both long- and short-limbed species paying the most energy to move, whereas intermediate-limbed species move using less energy. Finally, when these traits are mapped onto a lizard phylogeny, we show that locomotor functional morphology exhibits both deep phylogenetic effects and contemporary patterns of evolutionary convergence. Overall, the present study provides a foundation for testing hypotheses regarding the integration and evolution of functional traits in lizards and animals in general. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 97, 634,651. [source]