Arteriovenous malformation. Arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is an abnormal connection between arteries and veins, bypassing the capillary system. This vascular anomaly is widely known because of its occurrence in the central nervous system (usually cerebral AVM), but can appear in any location.
Since fetal alcohol syndrome covers a wide range of problems, there are many possible symptoms. The severity of these symptoms ranges from mild to severe, and can include: 1  a small head.  a smooth ridge between the upper lip and nose, small and wide-set eyes, a very thin upper lip, or other abnormal facial features.
Imagine that you're working in a health department and have been tasked with creating a handout that outlines the effects of alcohol on a fetus. Responses will vary. A sample response follows: Fetal alcohol syndrome is a group of alcohol-related birth defects that can occur when alcohol is consumed during a pregnancy. Exposure to alcohol can cause the fetus to be born with deformities to the face, eyes, ears, bones, brain, heart, and kidneys. Alcohol can also cause mental retardation and damage parts of the brain and the central nervous system.