A birth defect where a body opening or tube is missing or closed off, such as when the esophagus doesn't connect properly to the stomach.
From Greek 'a-' (without) + 'tresis' (perforation), literally meaning 'without a hole.' The term emerged in medical terminology in the 19th century to describe congenital abnormalities where normal body passages fail to form.
Babies born with esophageal atresia can't swallow properly because their food pipe doesn't connect to their stomach—one of the first things doctors check for in newborns with excessive drooling, and it's why emergency surgery can be lifesaving.
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