What is the term for conditions or traits that are present at birth due to prenatal development?

The term that describes conditions or traits that are present at birth due to prenatal development is "congenital conditions." This classification encompasses any abnormalities, which may be structural or functional, that occur during the development of the fetus and are evident at birth. These conditions can result from a variety of factors including genetic issues, environmental influences during pregnancy, or a combination of both.

Recognizing congenital conditions is crucial in health science as they can impact an individual's health right from birth and often require early intervention or management strategies. Examples include congenital heart defects, spina bifida, and certain genetic syndromes that manifest from birth.

While hereditary conditions involve traits passed down genetically from parents to offspring, and genetic disorders specifically refer to diseases caused by abnormalities in an individual's DNA, these categories do not necessarily capture all conditions formed during prenatal development as congenital conditions do. Acquired conditions, on the other hand, develop after birth and are the result of environmental factors or infections, thereby distinguishing them from those present at birth.