Conjoined twins
This is a birth defect in which twins are attached together.
By: Savanna Waters
Body systems affected when a Conjoined twin
Nervous System- Nerves in your body that send messages to your brain.
The Spinal cord
The brain
The cerebellum
Respiratory System-set of organs that allows a person to breathe.
Lungs
Trachea
Nasal Cavity
Skeletal System- A system that protects the organs.
Skull
Ribs
Pelvis
How the body system works normally and how when the body system is affected
Nervous System working normally
Nerve sends messages immediately to brain
Nervous System working with a conjoined twin
Sending messages to both brains if conjoined at brain
Respiratory System working normally
Lungs able to breath
Respiratory System working with a conjoined twin
Making it hard to breath
Sharing a lung
Skeletal System System working normally
Ribs protecting one set of organs
Skeletal System working with a conjoined twin
Ribs may have to support two sets of organs
Target population. Who is affected.
Conjoined twins occur once every 200,000 live births
Approximately 40-60% of CT arrive stillborn
about 35% survive one day
overall survival rate of CT is somewhere between 5-25%
Approximately 70% of all CT are girls.
Famous people
Mary and Eliza Chulkhurst were born in Biddenden, County of Kent, England in the year 1100, and were joined at the hip.
Most famous conjoined male twins, Chang and Eng, born in Siam (Thailand) of Chinese parents in 1811.
How does this condition happen?
They develop from the same fertilized egg
not fully separate after fertilization.
CT develop from a single fertilized ovum that has divided imperfectly(not all the way).
Diagnosis
CT are attached at the abdomen, chest, back, or top of the head,(most often at the chest, pelvis or buttocks.)
the division of the ovum has failed that’s how a twin is a CT
develop when an early embryo partially separates to form two individuals.
Most conjoined twins are stillborn or die shortly after birth.
Signs and Symptoms
There are not any specific signs that indicate a woman is carrying conjoined twins.
Conjoined twins may also share one or more internal organs.
Treatment
Some surviving conjoined twins(CT)can be surgically separated.
Surgical separation of twins is a risky procedure
Twins joined at the tailbone have a 68% chance of successful separation
Conjoined twins at the heart = no survivors.
If conjoined at musculo fibrous tissue can be separated
Instances the CT share vital organs and separation may not be possible.
Prognosis
Most conjoined twins are stillborn or die shortly after birth
Still can live a full life.
Connections
Abby and Brittany Hensel
Chang and Eng Bunker
Krista and Tatiana Hogan
Daisy and Violet Hilton