

The most common types of conjoined twins are: Types Ĭonjoined twins are typically classified by the point at which their bodies are joined. Over- or underexpression of this gene in laboratory animals results in severe malformations of the head region, including duplications, similar to some types of conjoined twins. Goosecoid activates inhibitors of BMP4 and contributes to regulation of head development.

Misexpression of genes, such as Goosecoid, may also result in conjoined twins. The type of twins formed depends on when and to what extent abnormalities of the node and streak occurred. Occasionally, monozygotic twins are connected only by a common skin bridge or by a common liver bridge. These twins are classified according to the nature and degree of their union. Partial splitting of the primitive node and streak may result in the formation of conjoined twins.

Conjoined twins share a single common chorion, placenta, and amniotic sac in utero, but so do some monozygotic but non-conjoined twins. The other explanation, no longer believed to be accurate, is fusion, in which the fertilized egg completely separates, but stem cells (that search for similar cells) find similar stem cells on the other twin and fuse the twins together. The one that is generally accepted is fission, in which the fertilized egg splits partially. Two possible explanations of the cause of conjoined twins have been proposed. Most live births are female, with a ratio of 3:1. Approximately half are stillborn, and an additional one-third die within 24 hours. It is a very rare phenomenon, estimated to occur in anywhere between one in 49,000 births to one in 189,000 births, with a somewhat higher incidence in Southwest Asia and Africa. X-ray of conjoined twins, Cephalothoracopagus.ĭepends on type occasionally may surviveĬonjoined twins – popularly referred to as Siamese twins – are twins joined in utero.
