Down syndrome: Difference between revisions

Down syndrome has many common physical characteristics. The following are some of the most common characteristics: the head is smaller than average, the face is flat, and the mouth is small. The slits of the eyes are narrow and have an epicanthal fold (a skin fold of the upper eyelid), and Brushfield spots are commonly seen in the iris. The ears are small and lower set on the head, and the neck is shorter than average. The length of the arms and legs are not proportionate to the size of the body.  The feet are wide and short towed. [http://www.downsyn.com/whatphys.php] Hands tend to be wide with short fingers. The hands will exhibit a single palmar crease, which is  commonly know as simian creases, which are single lines that run across the hand. [http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003290.htm] Another common characteristic in people with Down syndrome is hypotonia. Hypotonia is low muscle tone of the body. Infants with hypotonia will appear floppy and loose in appearance, and they will have little control of their heads and limbs. If therapy is started at a young age for hypotonia, the muscles will develop more strongly. [http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/hypotonia/hypotonia.htm]

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