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"Marfan syndrome is an inherited disorder that affects connective tissue — the fibers that support and anchor your organs and other structures in your body. Marfan syndrome most commonly affects the heart, eyes, blood vessels and skeleton." As you can see, it is a very serious disease because not only because of the other abnormalities but also because of the damage that it can do to the heart."

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Tall and slender build

Disproportionately long arms, legs and fingers

A breastbone that protrudes outward or dips inward

A high, arched palate and crowded teeth

Heart murmurs

Extreme nearsightedness

An abnormally curved spine

Flat feet

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Image of one of the symptoms of Marfan syndrome (disproportional hand)

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Image of one of the symptoms of Marfan syndrome (disproportional hand)

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"Marfan Syndrome is caused by a defect in the gene that enables your body to produce a protein that helps give connective tissue its elasticity and strength. Most people with Marfan syndrome inherit the abnormal gene from a parent who has the disorder. Each child of an affected parent has a 50-50 chance of inheriting the defective gene. In about 25 percent of the people who have Marfan syndrome, the abnormal gene doesn't come from either parent. In these cases, a new mutation develops spontaneously." This can be represented on a punnet square. All in all, there is a 50% chance to get a defective gene and 25% of the people who have this syndrome don't even have parents that carry the syndrome (genetically). This syndrome is cause by a mutation and is not caused by non-disjunction

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"The most dangerous complications of Marfan syndrome involve the heart and blood vessels. Faulty connective tissue can weaken the aorta — the large artery that arises from the heart and supplies blood to the body." This complication can lead to ruptures and when a rupture happens it can be fatal. This is why many doctors recommend that you get a surgery to replace the aorta and get a mechanical valve in place to stop the potential rupture that could kill the patient.

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Image of Heart before and during the affects of Marfan Syndrome and then an image of the aftermath of the surgery that can save the patients life

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Image of Heart before and during the affects of Marfan Syndrome and then an image of the aftermath of the surgery that can save the patients life

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Link to one of the websites I used

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Overview

Marfan syndrome is an inherited disorder that affects connective tissue - the fibers that support and anchor your organs and other structures in your body. Marfan syndrome most commonly affects the heart, eyes, blood vessels and skeleton.

People with Marfan syndrome are usually tall and thin with unusually long arms, legs, fingers and toes. The damage caused by Marfan syndrome can be mild or severe. If your aorta - the large blood vessel that carries blood from your heart to the rest of your body - is affected, the condition can become life-threatening.

Treatment usually includes medications to keep your blood pressure low to reduce the strain on your aorta. Regular monitoring to check for damage progression is vital. Many people with Marfan syndrome eventually require preventive surgery to repair the aorta.

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Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of Marfan syndrome can vary greatly, even among members of the same family, because the disorder can affect so many different areas of the body. Some people experience only mild effects, but others develop life-threatening complications.

Marfan syndrome features may include:

Tall and slender build

Disproportionately long arms, legs and fingers

A breastbone that protrudes outward or dips inward

A high, arched palate and crowded teeth

Heart murmurs

Extreme nearsightedness

An abnormally curved spine

Flat feet

When to see a doctor

If you think that you or your child may have Marfan syndrome, talk to your doctor or pediatrician. If your doctor suspects a problem, you'll likely be referred to a specialist for further evaluation.

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Causes

Marfan syndrome is caused by a defect in the gene that enables your body to produce a protein that helps give connective tissue its elasticity and strength.

Most people with Marfan syndrome inherit the abnormal gene from a parent who has the disorder. Each child of an affected parent has a 50-50 chance of inheriting the defective gene. In about 25% of the people who have Marfan syndrome, the abnormal gene comes from neither parent. In these cases, a new mutation develops spontaneously.

Risk factors

Marfan syndrome affects men and women equally and occurs among all races and ethnic groups. Because it's a genetic condition, the greatest risk factor for Marfan syndrome is having a parent with the disorder.

Complications

Because Marfan syndrome can affect almost any part of your body, it may cause a wide variety of complications.

Cardiovascular complications

The most dangerous complications of Marfan syndrome involve the heart and blood vessels. Faulty connective tissue can weaken the aorta - the large artery that arises from the heart and supplies blood to the body.

Aortic aneurysm. The pressure of blood leaving your heart can cause the wall of your aorta to bulge out, like a weak spot in a tire. In people who have Marfan syndrome, this is most likely to happen at the aortic root - where the artery leaves your heart.

Aortic dissection. The wall of the aorta is made up of layers. Dissection occurs when a small tear in the innermost layer of the aorta's wall allows blood to squeeze between the inner and outer layers of the wall. This can cause severe pain in the chest or back. An aortic dissection weakens the vessel's structure and can result in a rupture, which may be fatal.

Valve malformations. People who have Marfan syndrome can have weak tissue in their heart valves. This can produce stretching of the valve tissue and abnormal valve function. When heart valves don't work properly, your heart often has to work harder to compensate. This can eventually lead to heart failure.

Eye complications

Eye complications may include:

Lens dislocation. The focusing lens within your eye can move out of place if its supporting structures weaken. The medical term for this problem is ectopia lentis, and it occurs in more than half the people who have Marfan syndrome.

Retinal problems. Marfan syndrome also increases the risk of a detachment or tear in the retina, the light-sensitive tissue that lines the back wall of your eye.

Early-onset glaucoma or cataracts. People who have Marfan syndrome tend to develop these eye problems at a younger age. Glaucoma causes the pressure within the eye to increase, which can damage the optic nerve. Cataracts are cloudy areas in the eye's normally clear lens.

Skeletal complications

Marfan syndrome increases the risk of abnormal curves in the spine, such as scoliosis. It can also interfere with the normal development of the ribs, which can cause the breastbone to either protrude or appear sunken into the chest. Foot pain and low back pain are common with Marfan syndrome.

Complications of pregnancy

Marfan syndrome can weaken the walls of the aorta, the main artery that leaves the heart. During pregnancy, the heart pumps more blood than usual. This can put extra stress on the aorta, which increases the risk of a deadly dissection or rupture.

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This inherited disorder affects the skeleton and the eyes. It can also harm the large blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body.

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https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/ba/Marfan_wrist.tiff/lossy-page1-1200px-Marfan_wrist.tiff.jpg