lithopedion

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noun

A calcium-encased foetus that occurs in ectopic abdominal pregnancies when the foetus dies and is not reabsorbed by the maternal body, whereby the maternal system encases the foreign body (foetus) in calcium to isolate it.

Similar
stone baby
OriginAncient Greek λίθος →
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Meanings

nounlithopedion (plural lithopedions or lithopedia)

plural lithopedions · plural lithopedia · alternative lithopaedion

  1. medicineA calcium-encased foetus that occurs in ectopic abdominal pregnancies when the foetus dies and is not reabsorbed by the maternal body, whereby the maternal system encases the foreign body (foetus) in calcium to isolate it.

    Synonyms: stone baby

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA calcium-encased foetus that occurs in ectopic abdominal pregnancies when the foetus dies and is not reabsorbed by the maternal body, whereby the maternal system encases the foreign body (foetus) in calcium to isolate it.

Similar
stone baby

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekλίθος“stone”
  2. Englishlithopedion

From Ancient Greek λίθος (líthos, “stone”) + παιδίον (paidíon, “little child”).

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

lithopedion. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lithopedion

MLA

“lithopedion.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lithopedion. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “lithopedion,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lithopedion.

Source: lithopedion on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.