fetal alcohol syndrome

fetal alcohol syndrome   n.   Abbr. FAS A pattern of birth defects occurring as a result of excessive alcohol consumption by the mother during pregnancy and characterized by growth retardation, cranial, facial, or neural abnormalities, and developmental disabilities.

Main Entry: fetal alcohol syndrome
Function: noun
: a highly variable group of birth defects including mental retardation, deficient growth, central nervous systemdysfunction, and malformations of the skull and face that tend to occur in the offspring of women who consume large amounts of alcohol during pregnancy —abbreviation FAS

fetal alcohol syndrome n.
A complex of birth defects including cardiac, cranial, facial, or neural abnormalities and physical and mental growth retardation, occurring in an infant due to excess alcohol consumption by the mother during pregnancy.

fetal alcohol syndrome   (fē'təl)  Pronunciation Key  A syndrome of congenital defects caused by maternal alcohol abuse during pregnancy and characterized by any of various abnormalities, including growth and mental retardation, cranial and facial malformations, and cardiac defects.