Region: Whole Body

Achondroplasia refers to lack of normal cartilage formation. Since bone formation often follows cartilage, bones are also deformed. Many types of this deformity occur in cattle and most are considered to be inherited. Bulldog calves have a short wide head and may have a cleft palate. Short legged calves are referred to as dwarfs.

Normally the edges of the embryonic somatic disc are curved downward toward the viscera. If the edges of the somatic disc are curved upwards, the ventral body wall can not close and a schistosomus reflexus anomaly is the result. Schisto- means split and –somus refers to the body. Reflexus refers to the “inside out” curvature of the body. This anomaly is rare and most often observed in cattle where it causes dystocia.

Incomplete twining occurs when an early embryo splits incompletely. The resultant anomalies vary according to where the split occurs and the degree of splitting. In some cases there maybe two heads attached to a single body while in others there may be two rather complete twins that are joined in the trunk region.