Introduction
Dwarfism is a term used to describe a person of short stature, with an adult height of less than 4 feet 10 inches, or 147 centimeters. There are several different types of dwarfism which can be caused by over 200 medical conditions. Dwarfs today are most commonly referred to as “little people” ("Achondroplasia" n.d.).
Achondroplasia is the most common form of dwarfism, and is the result of an autosomal dominant genetic disorder characterized by an irregularity during the conversion of cartilage into bone. The word achondroplasia is Greek meaning "without cartilage formation," although individuals with this condition do have cartilage ("Achondroplasia: Fact Sheet" n.d.). Because achondroplasia is a dominant genetic disorder, only one copy of the gene needs to be present for the condition to occur. Thus, an achondroplastic individual has a 50% chance of passing the gene on to their offspring. However, in eighty percent of cases, achondroplasia is caused by a new genetic mutation rather than inherited though the parents ("Achondroplasia" n.d.). Achondroplastic individuals are not mentally retarded, and in several examples in history were often given high social status and performed important functions in adult life (Manchester et al. 1995).
Achondroplastic dwarfism is considered disproportionate due to the fact that the trunk is a relatively normal size while the limbs are severely shortened (Ortner et al. 1981). The average achondroplastic dwarf reaches an average height of 130 centimeters at adulthood (Morch 1941). Achondoplasia affects both men and women equally (Manchester et al. 1995).
Figure 1 (Manchester et al. 1995: 34): Skeleton with achondroplasia
