Types of Multiple Births: Terminology

Monozygotic - multiple (typically two) foetuses produced by the splitting of a single zygote Dizygotic - multiple (typically two) foetuses produced by two zygotes Polyzygotic - multiple foetuses produced by two or more zygotes Litter - the offspring produced by a multiple birth in non-human placentals Terms used for the order of multiple births are largely derived from the Latin names for numbers. Two offspring - twins Three offspring - triplets Four offspring - quadruplets Five offspring - quintuplets Six offspring - sextuplets Seven offspring - septuplets Eight offspring - octuplets Nine offspring - nonuplets Ten offspring - decaplets Eleven offspring - undecaplets Twelve offspring - duodecaplets Thirteen offspring - tredecaplets Fourteen offspring - quattuordecaplets Fifteen offspring - quindecaplets Labels: basics, science