Amelia
Historical document, translated for reference. It reflects medical knowledge of the 1920s–30s and is not medical advice.
Summary
This article from the 1928–1936 Great Medical Encyclopedia defines amelia as a congenital malformation characterized by the complete absence of limbs. It discusses various forms such as abrachia, acheiria, and apodia, and notes that affected individuals can still be viable and adapt by using other limbs.
Encyclopedia entry (1928–1936)
AMELIA (from Greek a- negative particle, and telos - limb), or ectromelia, a malformation (see) consisting in the complete absence of limbs; abrachia or acheiria (Greek brachion, cheir - arm) - absence of the arm, and apodia (Greek pous - foot) - absence of the legs, are distinguished. Monobrachia and monopodia signify the presence of only one arm or leg. Subjects with these malformations—amelus—can be fully viable; with abrachia, they eventually learn to use their lower extremities, for example, to write or grasp objects.
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“Amelia.” Soviet Medical Encyclopedia. English translation of Bolshaya Meditsinskaya Entsiklopediya, 1st ed. (Moscow, 1928–1936), ed. N. A. Semashko. https://sovietmedicalencyclopedia.pages.dev/article/amelia/