Have you ever meet anyone who had polydactyly?
You mean the pokemon? Yes! Do you have one?
No, I mean polydactyly. It means having an extra digit.
Oooh sorry. I never met anyone like that! Isn't it cool that people can have an extra digit?
It is cool. The opposite of that is called oligodactyly meaning fewer fingers and toes.
Does oligodactyly have to be from birth? Is it also called that if the finger or toe was lost from injury?
opposite of polydactyly. Very rare, this medical condition usually has a genetic or familial cause.
Oligodactyly is sometimes a sign or symptom of several syndromes including Poland syndrome and Weyer Ulnar Ray Syndrome. It is a type of dysmelia.
Ectrodactyly is an extreme instance of oligodactyly, involving the absence of one or more central digits of the hand or foot and is also known as split hand/split foot malformation (SHFM). The hands and feet of people with ectrodactyly are often described as "claw-like"
Polydactyly
Polydactyly or polydactylism (), also known as hyperdactyly, is a congenital physical anomaly in humans and animals resulting in supernumerary fingers and/or toes. Polydactyly is the opposite of oligodactyly (fewer fingers or toes).
Signs and symptoms.
In humans/animals this condition can present itself on one or both hands. The extra digit is usually a small piece of soft tissue that can be removed. Occasionally it contains bone without joints; rarely it may be a complete functioning digit. The extra digit is most