A congenital abnormality where the intestine does not fold or rotate properly in early fetal development is known as?

• A. Malrotation
• B. Crohn disease
• C. Diverticulum
• D. Fecalith

Answer: (A)

Intestinal malrotation is a congenital abnormality caused by failure of the midgut to rotate and fixate properly during early fetal life. Normally, the midgut undergoes about 270 degrees of counterclockwise rotation as it returns to the abdomen, positioning the duodenojejunal junction and the cecum in their typical locations. When rotation is incomplete or abnormal, the intestines end up in incorrect positions and may be tethered by abnormal ligaments, increasing the risk of obstruction or twisting (volvulus) in infancy. This concept explains why the intestine doesn’t fold and rotate as it should during development.

In contrast, Crohn disease is a chronic inflammatory condition of the GI tract, a diverticulum is a pouch-like outpouching, and a fecalith is a hardened piece of stool; none describe a failure of intestinal rotation during embryogenesis.