Table: Some Examples of Birth Defects - Merck Manuals Consumer Version

Some Examples of Birth Defects

Organ System	Birth Defect Examples*	What Happens	Treatment
Heart Overview of Heart Defects About one in 100 babies is born with a heart defect. Some are severe, but many are not. Defects may involve abnormal formation of the heart's walls or valves or of the blood vessels that enter... read more	Hypoplastic left heart syndrome	Underdevelopment of the left ventricle, leading to inability to pump blood to the body	Separate operations to rebuild the left ventricle or a heart transplant
Digestive tract Overview of Digestive Tract Birth Defects The digestive organs may be incompletely developed or abnormally positioned, causing blockages, or the muscles or nerves of the digestive tract may be defective. Symptoms depend on the location... read more	Omphalocele Omphalocele In abdominal wall defects, the muscles surrounding the abdominal cavity are weak or develop holes, allowing the intestines to spill out. The two main abdominal wall defects are omphalocele and... read more and gastroschisis Gastroschisis In abdominal wall defects, the muscles surrounding the abdominal cavity are weak or develop holes, allowing the intestines to spill out. The two main abdominal wall defects are omphalocele and... read more	A hole in, or weakening of, abdominal muscles, allowing internal abdominal organs to spill out (protrude) through the defect	Surgery to close the defect
Musculoskeletal Introduction to Birth Defects of the Face, Bones, Joints, and Muscles Birth defects, also called congenital anomalies, are physical abnormalities that occur before a baby is born. "Congenital" means "present at birth." Birth defects of the face and limbs are fairly... read more	Clubfoot Clubfoot and Other Foot Defects Clubfoot (talipes equinovarus) is a birth defect in which the foot and ankle are twisted out of shape or position. Birth defects, also called congenital anomalies, are physical abnormalities... read more	The foot and ankle are twisted out of shape or position	Immobilization with a cast and physical therapy to stretch the foot and ankle Sometimes surgery
Neurologic Overview of Brain and Spinal Cord Birth Defects Birth defects of the brain and spinal cord can occur in early or late fetal development. Typical symptoms include intellectual disability, paralysis, incontinence, or loss of sensation in some... read more	Porencephaly	Brain tissue missing and replaced with fluid-filled sacs	No treatment available Ventricular shunt may decrease pressure
	Spina bifida Neural Tube Defects and Spina Bifida Neural tube defects are a certain type of birth defect of the brain, spine, and/or spinal cord. Neural tube defects can result in nerve damage, learning disabilities, paralysis, and death. The... read more	The bones of the spine (vertebrae) do not close over the spinal cord	Surgery to cover the opening
Genital Genital Birth Defects Birth defects of the genitals can involve the penis, scrotum, or testes (testicles) in boys and the vagina and labia in girls. Sometimes the genitals are ambiguous, that is, not clearly female... read more	Undescended testis Undescended Testes and Retractile Testes Undescended testes (cryptorchidism) are testes that remain in the abdomen or the groin instead of descending into the scrotum. Retractile testes (hypermobile testes) have descended into the... read more	A testis (testicle) remains in the abdomen or groin instead of descending into the scrotum before birth	About half will descend into the scrotum without treatment by 4 to 6 months Surgery to move the testis into place
* These examples are only some of the many birth defects that can affect these organ systems.