Elements of morphology: Introduction

TLDR

Clinicians in dysmorphology are standardizing terms to describe human morphology. The study aims to standardize these terms and reach consensus on their definitions. The authors outline the project background and the considerations guiding term definitions. Standardizing terms will improve phenotype descriptions and enable precise comparisons across patients and related disciplines. Published 2009 Wiley‑Liss, Inc.

Abstract

Abstract An international group of clinicians working in the field of dysmorphology has initiated the standardization of terms used to describe human morphology. The goals are to standardize these terms and reach consensus regarding their definitions. In this way, we will increase the utility of descriptions of the human phenotype and facilitate reliable comparisons of findings among patients. Discussions with other workers in dysmorphology and related fields, such as developmental biology and molecular genetics, will become more precise. Here we describe the general background of the project and the various issues we have tried to take into account in defining the terms. Published 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.