omphalocele

Term: opmhalocele (exomphalos)

Literally meaning: “outside the navel”

Origin: Anc Greek

'ïμφαλός/omphalos (=navel)

+κήλη/kele(=hernia) > κήλεως/keleos(=burn, rupture)

Coined/History

Definition

Omphalocele (or exophalos) is a congenital defect in which the contents of the abdomen such as liver and intestine, herniate into the umbilical cord inside a sac and through the umbilical ring.  The incidence of this abnormality is about 2,5:5000 live births and often is associated with severe malformations and high mortality.