Skip to main content
ectopia

ectopia

9.9
An organ or body part in the wrong place from birth
  • noun
  • /ɛkˈtoʊpiə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : ectopía
  • The surgeon diagnosed the newborn with ectopia of the heart, a rare and serious condition.

Examples

  • Many cases of ectopia are congenital.

  • Genetic factors can sometimes contribute to ectopia of various organs.

  • Doctors detected ectopia in the patient's kidney position during a routine scan.

  • The doctor diagnosed her with ectopia of the heart.

  • The surgeon diagnosed the newborn with ectopia of the heart, a rare and serious condition.

  • Doctors detected ectopia in the patient's kidney position during a routine scan.

  • Genetic factors can sometimes contribute to ectopia of various organs.

Synonyms

heterotopia
vsectopia
  • Specialized
9.9

Tissue that grows in the wrong place in the body

involves whole organs or body parts rather than just tissue

How Displaced

transposition
  • Specialized
8.9
ectopia
  • Specialized
9.9
malposition
  • Specialized
8.6
situs
  • Specialized
1 9.9

Surface Forms

ectopia singular
ectopias plural

Morphology

ectopia = ectopic (opaque) = ecto + topia

The relation to the adjective 'ectopic' is morphological but relies on medical combining forms and is not transparently derived for an average B1 learner.

Etymology

Ectopia comes from Greek parts ek- ('out') and topos ('place'), the same topos you see in topography. So, ectopia describes an organ or body part that is 'out of place' in the body.