<unk>  results from a failure of proper maturation of midline mesoderm and ventral body wall (chest) formation during embryonic development. The exact etiology remains unknown, but abnormalities in the lateral body wall folds are believed to be involved. Normally, the lateral body walls are responsible for fusion at the midline to form the ventral wall. Corruption of this process may underlie<unk> . Defective ventral body wall formation yields a heart unprotected by the pericardium, sternum, or skin. Other organs may also have formed outside the skin, as well. Many cases of<unk>  have associated congenital heart defects, in which the heart has failed to properly form. Defects more commonly associated with<unk>  include: * Intracardiac defects * Atrial septal defect * Ventricular septal defect * Tetralogy of Fallot * Tricuspid atresia * Double outlet right ventricle * Non-cardiac malformations * Pentalogy of Cantrell * Omphalocele * Anterior diaphragmatic hernia * Cleft palate
Ectopia cordis
Cystic eyeball
Persistent pupillary membrane
Amastia
Lagophthalmos
Lipoatrophia semicircularis
Ocular dysmetria
Cryptophthalmos