Medical Inspiring Dicephalus Twins: Unbelievable Capabilities

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ryan_m_b
  • Start date Start date
AI Thread Summary
The discussion highlights the remarkable abilities of conjoined twins Abigail and Brittany Hensel, who have defied medical odds to lead active lives. Each twin controls one side of their shared body, allowing them to walk, run, ride a bicycle, and even drive a car by coordinating their movements. They demonstrate impressive teamwork, as seen in their ability to tie knots in a shirt without verbal communication. Born on March 7, 1990, in Minnesota, they are among the few sets of dicephalus twins to survive into their teenage years, despite initial medical predictions of limited survival. The twins share some organs but have separate spines, hearts, and other vital systems. Their story serves as an inspiring testament to resilience and adaptability, as they continue to pursue their dreams, including hopes of marriage in the future.
Ryan_m_b
Staff Emeritus
Science Advisor
Homework Helper
Insights Author
Messages
5,963
Reaction score
726
I'm stunned by these twins, I've never seen such capable conjoined twins! Absolutely amazing and inspiring.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K57IcN9DWXo&feature=g-vrec
 
Biology news on Phys.org
It really is amazing. Each girl controls one side of the body - one leg, one arm. Yet they've learned to coordinate in order to walk, run and even ride a bicycle.
 
Evo said:
It really is amazing. Each girl controls one side of the body - one leg, one arm. Yet they've learned to coordinate in order to walk, run and even ride a bicycle.
It really is amazing, they coordinate so well and live such active lives. There's a bit later in the video where they tie knots in a shirt quickly without talking at all.
 
It looks like their gist for life makes them enjoy life to the full.
Inspiring.
 
Here's some more information about these twins.
The Sun,UK, Sunday, August 19, 2012

Abigail and Brittany Hensel, Teenagers who defied all medical odds to live
by LYNSEY HAYWOOD

Last Updated: 22nd June 2010

Teenagers Abigail and Brittany Hensel prove that twins CAN share a body and live an active and happy life.

They have even passed their driving test with each sister using one arm to control the steering wheel.

The 18-year-old dicephalus twins have two spines, which join at the pelvis, two hearts and stomachs, three kidneys, two gall bladders and four lungs.

But they share one liver and ribcage and a nervous system.

Below the waist all organs including intestines, bladder and reproductive organs are shared.

Each twin controls one side of the body and they can play the piano, swim, ride a bike and take part in sports.

The Hensels, born on March 7, 1990, in Minnesota, are thought to be one of only four sets of dicephalus twins ever to survive into teen years.

Doctors warned their parents, nurse Patty and carpenter Mike, they were unlikely to survive their first night.

Only one set of twins in every 40,000 is born connected in some way and only one per cent of these survive beyond the first year.

Doctors are worried that Abigail and Brittany will eventually suffer heart or other organ defects.

But none has shown so far and the twins even hope to marry one day.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2120555/US-dicephalus-twins-who-defied-all-medical-odds-to-live.html#ixzz23wtXTX7y
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I remember seeing a show about them when they were little kids, I'm glad they're doing okay.
 
https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/body-dysmorphia/ Most people have some mild apprehension about their body, such as one thinks their nose is too big, hair too straight or curvy. At the extreme, cases such as this, are difficult to completely understand. https://www.msn.com/en-ca/health/other/why-would-someone-want-to-amputate-healthy-limbs/ar-AA1MrQK7?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=68ce4014b1fe4953b0b4bd22ef471ab9&ei=78 they feel like they're an amputee in the body of a regular person "For...
Thread 'Did they discover another descendant of homo erectus?'
The study provides critical new insights into the African Humid Period, a time between 14,500 and 5,000 years ago when the Sahara desert was a green savanna, rich in water bodies that facilitated human habitation and the spread of pastoralism. Later aridification turned this region into the world's largest desert. Due to the extreme aridity of the region today, DNA preservation is poor, making this pioneering ancient DNA study all the more significant. Genomic analyses reveal that the...
Back
Top