Edit page | Page history | Printable version

Congenital

(Science: embryology) Existing at and usually before, birth, referring to conditions that are present at birth, regardless of their causation.

Origin: L. Congenitus = born together present at birth but not necessarily hereditary; acquired during fetal development.Reference to occurrences that happen before birth, and are caused by the environment, i.e. they are not inherited.