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Conjoined Twins

Conjoined Twins is a phenomenon when monozygotic twins are physically attached to each other before birth, sharing body parts ranging from bones to even renal openings. Typically, the embryonic layers of the cell will split 8 to 12 days after conception; these twins will then develop their own individual organs. However, the embryo of conjoined twins takes a few days longer to split after conception.  Before the splitting mechanism is complete, embryonic separation stops and the twins are conjoined.



Conjoined twins are extremely rare, and this makes it difficult to determine analyse potential risk factors that may cause couples to have them. There are also no specific symptoms unique to conjoined twins, they only share the same symptoms as normal twins such as the uterus growing at a faster rate and expecting mothers can experience more fatigue than normal.

Recently, improvements in surgical procedures have lessened the mortality rate of separating conjoined twins. Also, advances in anesthetic care and postoperative critical care have improved outcomes and survival rates.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/conjoined-twins/symptoms-causes/syc-20353910#:~:text=Conjoined%20twins%20are%20two%20babies,the%20chest%2C%20abdomen%20or%20pelvis.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3611880/

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