meromelia /mer′əmē″lyə/ [Gk, meros + melos, limb] , 1. an abnormality of development in which the upper part of the arm or leg is missing so that hands or feet are attached to the body like stumps, generally resulting from the use of thalidomide during pregnancy. 2. a general designation for the congenital absence of any part of a limb. It is used in reference to such conditions as adactyly, hemimelia, or phocomelia. Compare amelia, def. 1.
