also: アザラシししょう
noun
phocomelia
Medical term for a congenital condition where limbs are severely shortened, resembling seal flippers. Used in clinical and academic contexts.
海豹肢症は、サリドマイドの副作用として知られるようになった。
Phocomelia became known as a side effect of thalidomide.
Standard kanji spelling for this medical term.
Katakana spelling of the animal part, sometimes used for clarity or in patient-facing contexts.
Compound of 海豹 (あざらし, 'seal') + 肢 (し, 'limb') + 症 (しょう, 'condition/disease'), literally 'seal-limb condition'. The term is a direct calque of medical Latin 'phocomelia'.