80 other reported cases of fetus-in-fetu

  • Thread starter Thread starter Monique
  • Start date Start date
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the phenomenon of fetus-in-fetu, where one twin develops inside the body of the other. Participants share insights on reported cases, the biological implications, and personal reactions to the topic.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant recounts a case of a man who carried his twin sibling for 36 years without knowledge, raising questions about the nature of the sibling's development.
  • Another participant questions whether the sibling was conscious, to which a reply suggests it was likely not, due to its calcified and headless state, but it had an unusual amount of hair.
  • There is curiosity about the developmental window for such occurrences, with a participant seeking clarification on how the implantation happens and the conditions under which it can occur.
  • One participant mentions a documentary about a different case of conjoined twins, expressing interest in how they experience sharing two brains with one body.
  • A participant provides a technical definition of fetus-in-fetu, noting that while it typically attaches to an artery, it rarely develops a face or brain, but can form limbs and hair.
  • Another participant requests online references to support the discussion.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying levels of understanding and curiosity about the phenomenon, with no clear consensus on the specifics of development or consciousness related to fetus-in-fetu cases.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes references to specific cases and biological terms, but lacks detailed scientific explanations or consensus on the mechanisms involved in fetus-in-fetu occurrences.

Monique
Staff Emeritus
Science Advisor
Gold Member
Messages
4,229
Reaction score
61
OK, I really hate to loose the nice story I just wrote and having to rewrite it.. Greg really has to do something about that

In short: there was this guy that carried his twin sibling around in his belly for 36 years without ever knowing it until a surgeon opened him up to releave him from his 2-3 times 9 mo. pregnancy sized belly. Apparently the unborn fetus was a parasite and had been growing along with the adult as he grew

There are about 80 other reported cases of fetus-in-fetu :S
 
Biology news on Phys.org
OK, I really hate to loose the nice story I just wrote and having to rewrite it..

Try copying your entire post just before hitting the submit reply button. If anything goes wrong, you can just paste your post again.

Woah! Was his sibling conscious?
 
Originally posted by Bubonic Plague


Woah! Was his sibling conscious?

It might have been if it wasn't calcified and headless. It had 26 pounds of hair, though. I don't really want to think about where.
 
Yes, it didn't have a well formed head but it did have a lot of hear and was quite big so it should have been alive for a long time I guess .

I had never heard of anything like this before, as I understand it the other fetus had actually implantated itself in the other person? Since it had its own sack with fluid and was able to grow.. anyone an idea at what point in the development of the fetus the window is for this to occur?

Just today I saw a documentary of a siamese twin which was one up to the shoulder but had two heads but seemed healthy otherwise.. I didn't see the beginning and I wonder how they experience sharing two brains with one body?
 
Hmm, I don't suppose you have an on-line reference, do you?
 
the technical term is called "Fetus in Fetu." normally the "parasite" child attaches itself to an artery but rarely does it actually form a face or brain. it does however, in some cases, form legs, arms, teeth and hair. here are some pictures:
http://www.ijri.org/articles/archives/2003-13-1/obstetric_93.htm
 
Last edited by a moderator: