Conjoined twins also known as Siamese twins are identical twins

joined in utero. An extremely rare phenomenon, the occurrence is

estimated to range from 1 in 49,000 births to 1 in 189,000 births,
with a somewhat higher incidence in Southwest Asia and Africa.[2]
Approximately half are stillborn, and an additional one-third die
within 24 hours. Most live births are female, with a ratio of 3:1.

Two contradicting theories exist to explain the origins of conjoined twins. The more generally
accepted theory is fission, in which the fertilized egg splits partially.[4] The other theory, no longer
believed to be the basis of conjoined twinning,[4] is fusion, in which a fertilized egg completely
separates, but stem cells (which search for similar cells) find similar stem cells on the other twin and
fuse the twins together. Conjoined twins share a single common chorion, placenta, and amniotic sac,
although these characteristics are not exclusive to conjoined twins, as there are some monozygotic
but non-conjoined twins who also share these structures in utero.[5]

Conjoined twins are two babies who are born physically connected to each other.

Conjoined twins develop when an early embryo only partially

separates to form two individuals. Although two fetuses will develop
from this embryo, they will remain physically connected — most
often at the chest, abdomen or pelvis. Conjoined twins may also
share one or more internal organs.
Conjoined twins are typically classified according to where they're
joined, usually at matching sites, and sometimes at more than one
site. They sometimes share organs or other parts of their bodies

Though many conjoined twins are not alive when born (stillborn) or die shortly
after birth, advances in surgery and technology have improved survival rates.
Some surviving conjoined twins can be surgically separated. The success of
surgery depends on where the twins are joined and how many and which
organs are shared, as well as the experience and skill of the surgical team.

Chest. Thoracopagus (thor-uh-KOP-uh-gus) twins are joined face to

face at the chest. They often have a shared heart and may also share
one liver and upper intestine. This is one of the most common sites of
conjoined twins.
In rare cases, twins may be conjoined with one twin smaller and less fully
formed than the other (asymmetric conjoined twins)

extra tail on his face

The sisters, who were born conjoined, shared an abdomen, pelvis,

liver, large intestine and two legs.
Kendra was given the girls' only kidney while he sister went onto
dialysis following the surgery.
Their mum donated one of her kidneys to her daughter but sadly, 10
years after the transplant it failed and Maliyah had to go back onto
dialysis.
Maliyah had her second kidney transplant last year and so far it has
been successful.

Twins conjoined at the head who will never be separated are surviving years beyond what doctors
predicted.

Neev and Nelly Kolestein, from Amsterdam, have been attached by the backs of their heads for their
18 years of life, but have their own brains and bodies.
Their mother, who does not want to be identified, was told during labour that her babies would be
joined at the head.

Medics were convinced the girls would die shortly after birth, and if they
survived, it was expected their life would be a struggle before dying around the
age of 10.

They are unable to be separated because they share a main artery in the head
which keeps them alive, the family said.

But the twins are thriving and admit they would never want to be separated anyway - despite cruel
torments throughout their lives.

They've never known any different than what they are used to - such as using a mirror to see each
other and watch TV at the same time.

As Craniopagus twins, the girls are a medical phenomenon, representing just

two to six percent of conjoined twins worldwide.
Conjoined twin sisters, 18, who can never be separated because they share a vital artery defy doctors
who 'said they would die by the age of 10'

Neev and Nelly Kolestein were only discovered as conjoined during labour

They were moved from South America to Netherlands to receive medical help

Their parents wanted them to be separated, but it wasn't possible

Craniopagus twins, joined at the head, are rare and surgery has high risks

Now, the girls are thriving and have overcome cruel bullying

How they are connected are they sharing organs what it the blood supply The
legs of the parasitic twin were growing at the same rate as Deepak, meaning the youngster was
carrying around an extra three kilos on his tiny 12- kg frame. Every year the partially formed twin
continues to grow parasitically feeding of deepak s blood supply and threatening his survival

A parasitic twin is an identical twin that has stopped developing during

gestation, but is physically attached to the fully developing twin. The fully developed twin is also
known as the dominant or autosite twin.
The parasitic twin never completes development. Rarely, if ever, do parasitic twins have a complete
brain or functional heart. They usually don’t share organs with the dominant twin. They can’t survive
on their own.

In some cases, the dominant twin looks like a normally developed baby with extra limbs or
unrecognizable protrusions. Without treatment, this twin may develop severe health
problems from the efforts of supporting the parasitic twin.
A parasitic twin, also known as an asymmetrical or unequal conjoined twin, is the result of the
processes that also produce vanishing twins and conjoined twins, and may
represent a continuum between the two.[citation needed] Parasitic twins occur
when a twin embryo begins developing in utero, but the pair does not fully
separate, and one embryo maintains dominant development at the expense of
its twin. Unlike conjoined twins, one ceases development during gestation and is vestigial to a
mostly fully formed, otherwise healthy individual twin. The
undeveloped twin is
defined as parasitic, rather than conjoined, because it is incompletely
formed or wholly dependent on the body functions of the complete
fetus. The independent twin is called the autosite.