All about Teratology

presented by
Loreno, Sherlyn
Pasco, Kyla
Salbibia, Angel
Lapi-an, Lara mae
Remedios, Efrel may
Malunes, Jehan
Teratology is the study of abnormalities of physiological development in organisms during their life span. It is a
sub-discipline in medical genetics which focuses on the classification of congenital abnormalities in
dysmorphology. The related term developmental toxicity includes all manifestations of abnormal development
that are caused by environmental insult. These may include growth retardation, delayed mental development or
other congenital disorders without any structural malformations.[1]

In other words, is the science that studies the causes

of mechanisms, and patterns of abnormal
development. The study of birth effects. The study
of abnormalities of psychological development in
organisms during their life span.
A dysmorphic feature is an abnormal difference in body
structure. It can be an isolated finding in an otherwise normal
individual, or it can be related to a congenital disorder, genetic
syndrome or birth defect. Dysmorphology is the study of
dysmorphic features, their origins and proper nomenclature.
One of the key challenges in identifying and describing
dysmorphic features is the use and understanding of specific
terms between different individuals.[1] Clinical geneticists and
pediatricians are usually those most closely involved with the
identification and description of dysmorphic features, as most
are apparent during childhood.
A birth defect, also known as a congenital disorder, is an
abnormal condition that is present at birth regardless of its
cause.[3] Birth defects may result in disabilities that may be
physical, intellectual, or developmental.[3] The disabilities
can range from mild to severe.[7] Birth defects are divided
into two main types: structural disorders in which problems
are seen with the shape of a body part and functional
disorders in which problems exist with how a body part
works.[4] Functional disorders include metabolic and
degenerative disorders.[4] Some birth defects include both
structural and functional disorders.[4]
Information regarding the following clusters of hazards to
pre-natal development:
Prescription and non-prescription
01 drugs.

02 Psychoactive Drugs

Environmental Hazards
03 Maternal factors such as
04 anxiety, age, etc.
Rubella, syphilis, AIDS, nutrition, high
 Prescription and non-
prescription drugs
The term prescription refers to medicines that are safe and
effective when used under a doctor's care, whereas
nonprescription or OTC drugs are medicines the FDA determines
are safe and effective for use without a doctor's prescription.[1]

Over-the-counter drugs are medicines sold

directly to a consumer without a requirement Prescription drug
for a prescription from a healthcare
A prescription drug is a pharmaceutical drug
professional, as opposed to prescription drugs,
which may be supplied only to consumers
that legally requires a medical prescription
possessing a valid prescription.[3] to be dispensed.[2]
Psychoactive drugs Psychoactive Drugs
Common factors arising from prenatal exposure to
psychoactive drugs could include mechanisms related
to “fetal origins” and may also contribute to more long-
term outcomes. Alcohol and marijuana,and is the most
widely abused drug worldwide. Cocaine became one of
the most frequently abused illicit drugs during
pregnancy and also one of the most studied with regard
to its potential teratologic and neurodevelopmental
effects on the developing fetus and child. The long
term outcome of prenatally cocaine- exposed children
were exaggerated, concern remains about more
“subtle” effects that may affect development,
particularly in childhood and adolescence.
 Environmental
Hazards
An environmental health hazard is a substance that has the
ability to cause an adverse health event. This includes
physical, chemical, and biological factors that are external
to a person. Hazards can be natural or human-made.
These chemicals include commonly known hazards such
as lead, mercury, and environmental tobacco smoke, as
well as some pesticides, solvents, products containing
chlorine, and other chemicals referred to as “persistent
organic pollutants.” The fetus is particularly vulnerable to
environmental chemicals that can disrupt the
developmental process at critical times during gestation.
Figure: The effects of environmental hazards
across generations Environmental exposures
in early life can have immediate effects on
health or accumulate over time to increase
disease risk later. Exposure can start in the
womb and can have effects throughout life.
Children and adolescents are exposed to
various hazards from the environments in
which they live, learn, work, and play.
Children are especially susceptible to these
exposures because of their developing
systems and behavior.
 Maternal factors that affecting the fetus include
social, cultural, economic, political,
Maternal
factors
environmental and behavioural systems which
such as
impact on the nutritional wellbeing of pregnant
women. Rubella, syphilis, AIDS,and nutrition,
high anxiety, age, etc.

Worries during pregnancy are universal. Hormonal changes of pregnancy, prior heartbreaking miscarriages, and
sleep difficulties may all contribute to anxiety for mothers-to-be. Maternal symptoms of anxiety and depression
increased the risk of emotional and disruptive problem behaviors in children as early as 18 months of age, according
to new research findings from the TOPP study.
-maternal age generally denotes age after 35 years during the time of delivery. Despite the fact that being pregnant a
any reproductive age is not risk-free, older gravidity usually culminates with adverse outcomes both to the mother
and fetus or neonate.
 Childhood outcomes following
fetal and maternal complications
Fetal outcomes in pregnancy
during pregnancy (for example
Maternal and offspring
(for example stillbirth, childhood obesity, cardiovascular
benefits of breastfeeding
preterm birth, normal and disease risk, congenital disorders
Maternal risk of developing
disordered fetal growth and and cognitive development)
Maternal outcomes in pregnancy diseases in later life (for
cognitive development)
(pre-eclampsia, gestational example type 2 diabetes,
diabetes, blood pressure and hypertension and gestational
maternal hemorrhage) diabetes risk in subsequent
pregnancies)
During pregnancy, HIV can pass
through the placenta and infect
the fetus. During labor and
delivery, the baby may be
exposed to the virus from a
woman's blood and other fluids.
Pregnant women who contract rubella are at
risk for miscarriage or stillbirth, and their
developing babies are at risk for severe birth
defects with devastating, lifelong consequences.

A myriad of maternal factors (including pre-existing

conditions, environmental exposures, and genetic
Congenital syphilis (CS) is a
predisposition) are known to influence pregnancy,
disease that occurs when a
childbirth, and the health of both the mother and her child
mother with syphilis passes the
infection on to her baby during
during pregnancy and long after birth.
pregnancy.
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