APA Dictionary of Psychology

a familial disorder, now linked to a defect on chromosome 3 (locus 3q22.1–24), marked by microcephaly, a beaklike nose, prominent eyes, a narrow face, short stature, and intellectual developmental disorder. It was originally known by the outdated and now offensive term bird-headed dwarfism. Now also called Seckel nanism; Virchow–Seckel syndrome. [reported in 1960 by Helmut P. G. Seckel (1900–1960), German physician; the term bird-headed dwarfism was introduced by Rudolf Virchow (1821–1902), German pathologist]