acardius

noun

acar·​dius (ˈ)ā-ˈkärd-ē-əs How to pronounce acardius (audio)
: one of a pair of twin fetuses that develops without a heart and receives its blood supply from its twin through vascular connections on the placenta
… due to the parasitic relationship of the acardius, there is a high risk of mortality (50-75%) in the donor twin …Ona Marie Faye-Peterson et al., Handbook of Placental Pathology

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Cite this Entry

“Acardius.” Merriam-Webster.com Medical Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/acardius. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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