Cryptorchidism, or failure of testicular descent, is a common human congenital abnormality with a multifactorial etiology that likely reflects the involvement of endocrine, environmental, and hereditary factors. Cryptorchidism can result in infertility and increases risk for testicular tumors. Testicular descent from abdomen to scrotum occurs in 2 distinct phases: the transabdominal phase and the inguinoscrotal phase (summary by Gorlov et al., 2002).

Midline indentation or cleft of the scrotum.

Hypospadias with location of the urethral meatus in the perineal region.

Abnormally small penis. At birth, the normal penis is about 3 cm (stretched length from pubic tubercle to tip of penis) with micropenis less than 2.0-2.5 cm.

Upper insertion of the ear to the scalp below an imaginary horizontal line drawn between the inner canthi of the eye and extending posteriorly to the ear.

A type of abnormal location of the ears in which the position of the ears is characterized by posterior rotation (the superior part of the ears is rotated towards the back of the head, and the inferior part of the ears towards the front).

Intellectual disability, previously referred to as mental retardation, is characterized by subnormal intellectual functioning that occurs during the developmental period. It is defined by an IQ score below 70.

Protrusion of the contents of the abdominal cavity through the inguinal canal.

Protrusion of abdominal contents through a defect in the abdominal wall musculature around the umbilicus. Skin and subcutaneous tissue overlie the defect.

A deformity of the chest caused by overgrowth of the ribs and characterized by protrusion of the sternum.

A separation of the rectus abdominis muscle into right and left halves (which are normally joined at the midline at the linea alba).

A rounded, bulging chest that resembles the shape of a barrel. That is, there is an increased anteroposterior diameter and usually some degree of kyphosis.

Decreased inferosuperior length of the sternum.

Craniosynostosis (CRS) is a primary abnormality of skull growth involving premature fusion of the cranial sutures such that the growth velocity of the skull often cannot match that of the developing brain. This produces skull deformity and, in some cases, raises intracranial pressure, which must be treated promptly to avoid permanent neurodevelopmental disability (summary by Fitzpatrick, 2013). Craniosynostosis-4 (CRS4) includes lambdoid, sagittal, metopic, coronal, and multisuture forms. For a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of craniosynostosis, see CRS1 (123100).

Abnormal morphology of vertebral body.

Premature closure of the coronal suture of skull.

Developmental hypoplasia of the dental enamel.

Pterygium colli is a congenital skin fold that runs along the sides of the neck down to the shoulders. It involves an ectopic fibrotic facial band superficial to the trapezius muscle. Excess hair-bearing skin is also present and extends down the cervical region well beyond the normal hairline.

The palpebral fissure inclination is more than two standard deviations below the mean.

Diminished length of the neck.

Epicanthus is a condition in which a fold of skin stretches from the upper to the lower eyelid, partially covering the inner canthus. Usher (1935) noted that epicanthus is a normal finding in the fetus of all races. Epicanthus also occurs in association with hereditary ptosis (110100).

Distance between the hairline (trichion) and the glabella (the most prominent point on the frontal bone above the root of the nose), in the midline, more than two SD below the mean. Alternatively, an apparently decreased distance between the hairline and the glabella.

Increased breadth of the nasal bridge (and with it, the nasal root).

Anterior positioning of the nasal root in comparison to the usual positioning for age.

Hair on the neck extends more inferiorly than usual.

Distance between nasal base and midline upper lip vermilion border more than 2 SD above the mean. Alternatively, an apparently increased distance between nasal base and midline upper lip vermilion border.

Decreased vertical distance from the vermilion border of the lower lip to the inferior-most point of the chin.

Wrinkled, redundant, inelastic and sagging skin.

Reduced density of hairs.

A thickening of the skin thickness in the posterior aspect of the fetal neck. A nuchal fold (NF) measurement is obtained in a transverse section of the fetal head at the level of the cavum septum pellucidum and thalami, angled posteriorly to include the cerebellum. The measurement is taken from the outer edge of the occiput bone to the outer skin limit directly in the midline. An NF measurement greater than 5 mm at 14 to 17+6 weeks of gestation, or 6 mm at 18 to 28 weeks has been associated with a markedly increased risk for Down syndrome.

Underdevelopment of the nipple.

A larger than usual distance between the left and right nipple.

The upper eyelid margin is positioned 3 mm or more lower than usual and covers the superior portion of the iris (objective); or, the upper lid margin obscures at least part of the pupil (subjective).

A misalignment of the eyes so that the visual axes deviate from bifoveal fixation. The classification of strabismus may be based on a number of features including the relative position of the eyes, whether the deviation is latent or manifest, intermittent or constant, concomitant or otherwise and according to the age of onset and the relevance of any associated refractive error.