Congenital abnormality is also known congenital anomaly or congenital malformation or birth defects. This is condition is caused at the time of birth due to some varied presentation.

Types Of Congenital Abnormality:

• Congenital Physical Anomaly: It is the abnormality in any of the structure of the body part. Anomalies can be either minor or severe. The example of minor anomalies includes a third nipple, 5th finger curvature, preauricular pits (these are tiny indentations of the skin near the ears).
• Congenital Malformation is a physical defect which can be perceived as a problem. A form of malfunction which affect more than one body part is referred as the malfunction syndrome.
• Birth Defects: These are the form of congenital deformity which are formed due to various factors including genetics, environmental or behavioral problems.
• Genetic Disorders or Diseases: These are congenital and are usually recognized later in the life. Genetics disorders or diseases can be divided into single – gene defect, multiple gene defect or chromosomal defects. Chromosomal disorder involve loss or duplication of larger portions of chromosomes. Abnormalities of larger chromosomes have their effect on different body parts or organ system.
• Congenital Metabolic Disease: It is an inborn error of metabolism. Most of the single gene defects are heritable and may cause defect in either the body parts or simply in their functions.

Causes Of Congenital Abnormality:
The actual cause for these abnormalities to occur are not yet known. But most of them are known to be caused either due to Genetic causes or Environmental causes.

• Genetic Causes: These causes refer to the transfer or inheritance of the abnormal genes from the parent body to the fetus. Or there can be a mutation in one of the germ cells which later gives rise to the fetus.
• Environmental Causes: These are the causes which are related to the mother’s environment. These include deficiencies related to diet, various infections or toxins. For example intake of alcohol or deficiency of folic acid in mother’s body or any kind of infection can result in a birth defect.