Basic Types of Conjoined Twins

* Thoracopagus: Ventral or frontal union at the chest, often with a shared heart; most common form of conjoined twins; about 35% of all conjoined twins.
* Omphalopagus: Ventral or frontal union at the abdomen, often with shared liver tissue; the highest survival rate; about 30% of all conjoined twins.
* Pyopagus: Dorsal or rear union at pelvis; about 19% of all conjoined twins; never involves the heart or umbilicus.
* Ischiopagus: Ventral or frontal union at the pelvis, often with shared intestines, bladders, genitals and kidneys; about 6% of all conjoined twins.
* Parapagus: Lateral or side union with a variety of third and fourth limbs; conjoinment extends a variable distance upward; about 5% of all conjoined twins.
* Craniopagus: Dorsal or rear union at the head; only about 2% of all conjoined twins; never involves the heart or umbilicus.
* Rachipagus: Dorsal or rear union at the spine.
* Cephalopagus: Ventral or frontal union including the head and chest; two faces on the opposite sides of the head; do not survive; extremely rare.
* Dicephalus: This refers to one body and two heads.

More Articles For You

HOW TO SUCCEED IN NURSING MULTIPLES [1]
AM I AN "I" OR A "WE"? HELPING TWINS TO BE INDIVIDUALS [2]
WHEN ONE TWIN IS SHY [3]
... for additional articles of interest to parents and families of multiple children, SUBSCRIBE [4]to TWINS™ Magazine today!