Atresia

Absence of a normal opening or failure of a structure to be tubular.</P> Atresia can affect many structures in the body, including: > >Anal atresia -- congenital absence of a hole at the bottom end of the intestine.

Also called imperforate anus.

>Aortic atresia -- congenital absence of the normal valvular opening into the aorta.

>Biliary atresia -- absence of the major bile ducts, causing jaundice.

>Choanal atresia -- congenital failure of one or both nasal passages to open.

>Esophageal atresia -- a birth defect in which part of esophagus is not hollow.

>Intestinal atresia -- obliteration of the hollow of the small intestine, involving the ileum (50% of cases) or the jejunum or duodenum.

>Laryngeal atresia -- congenital failure of the laryngeal opening to develop, resulting in partial or total obstruction at or just above or below the glottis.

>Pulmonary atresia -- congenital absence of the pulmonary valve opening in the heart.

>Tricuspid atresia -- congenital lack of the tricuspid valve opening.

>Vaginal atresia -- congenital occlusion of the vagina or subsequence adhesion (sticking together) of the walls of the vagina occluding it.

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