There are many different forms of dwarfism found all over the world. The most common one however; is called Achondroplasia. Achondroplasia actually means “without cartilage formation”. This does not mean that the body cannot make cartilage. It means that the cartilage is not able to convert into bone. This process is called ossification. Achondroplasia is very similar to another type of dwarfism called hypochondroplasia. The biggest difference between the two is that your features are much more severe when you have achondroplasia. When someone has this disorder there leg and arm bones are not at the same length of a normal sized person. The upper part of both the legs and arms are very short. (Figure 1) People with this disorder
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It can be both diagnosed while the mother is still pregnant with the child or when the child is born. If both the mother and the father have achondroplasia their child will most likely have it as well. When both parents have it the child has a 50% chance of having normal achondroplasia. I say normal because the child also has a 25% chance of getting an extreme case of it known as homozygous achondroplasia. When someone gets homozygous achondroplasia they are either stillborn or die in the first few months of their life. The child also has a 25% chance of not getting achondroplasia at all. Actually “in more than 80 percent of cases, achondroplasia isn’t inherited”. ("Achondroplasia.") Instead they are caused by spontaneous mutations in the babies genes. On the other hand 20 percent of achondroplasia cases are inherited from their parents. …show more content…
Not only will they have health problems as a child but as they get older more health problems will occur. When an infant has achondroplasia they can have apnea, decreased muscle tone, spinal stenosis, and they could also have hydrocephalus. As they get older it will be difficult to bend their elbows, develop bowed legs, they could become obese, and their spinal stenosis could become worse and even severe. ("Achondroplasia.")
People with achondroplasia typically stay under five feet. The average height for a full grown male is 4 feet, 4 inches. (Table 1) While the average height for a female is 4 feet, 1 inch. (Table 2) It is extremely rare for someone with achondroplasia to reach 5 feet.
It can be both diagnosed while the mother is still pregnant with the child or when the child is born. If both the mother and the father have achondroplasia their child will most likely have it as well. When both parents have it the child has a 50% chance of having normal achondroplasia. I say normal because the child also has a 25% chance of getting an extreme case of it known as homozygous achondroplasia. When someone gets homozygous achondroplasia they are either stillborn or die in the first few months of their life. The child also has a 25% chance of not getting achondroplasia at all. Actually “in more than 80 percent of cases, achondroplasia isn’t inherited”. ("Achondroplasia.") Instead they are caused by spontaneous mutations in the babies genes. On the other hand 20 percent of achondroplasia cases are inherited from their parents. …show more content…
Not only will they have health problems as a child but as they get older more health problems will occur. When an infant has achondroplasia they can have apnea, decreased muscle tone, spinal stenosis, and they could also have hydrocephalus. As they get older it will be difficult to bend their elbows, develop bowed legs, they could become obese, and their spinal stenosis could become worse and even severe. ("Achondroplasia.")
People with achondroplasia typically stay under five feet. The average height for a full grown male is 4 feet, 4 inches. (Table 1) While the average height for a female is 4 feet, 1 inch. (Table 2) It is extremely rare for someone with achondroplasia to reach 5 feet.