lithopedion

English

Alternative forms

• lithopaedion

Etymology

From Ancient Greek λίθος (líthos, “stone”) + παιδίον (paidíon, “little child”).

Noun

lithopedion (plural lithopedions)

1. (medicine) A calcium-encased foetus that occurs in ectopic abdominal pregnancies when the foetus dies and is not reabsorbed by the maternal body, whereby the maternal system encases the foreign body (foetus) in calcium to isolate it.

Synonyms

• stone baby

Hyponyms

• lithokelyphopedion
• lithokelyphos
• lithotecnon