What is a cloaca anomaly?

Also known as: cloaca, cloacal anomalies, cloacal malformation, cloacal abnormalities.

It is a major malformation of the intestinal genital and urinary tracts in females. During development in the uterus, these structures do not divide properly resulting in the rectum, bladder and vagina all ending in a solitary channel which exits through a single opening orifice on the baby’s bottom (perineum).


Reviewed by: Juan L Calisto, MD

This page was last updated on: 1/29/2019 3:21:13 PM

© 2024 Nicklaus Children's Hospital. All Rights Reserved.