Which term refers to congenital defects that are a result of intervening forces?

The term that refers to congenital defects resulting from intervening forces is disruption. Disruption occurs when a normal development process is interrupted by external factors, leading to the breakdown of previously formed structures. This can include a variety of influences, such as physical forces like amniotic bands or external factors that affect an organ or body part that was initially developing normally.

In contrast, malformation refers to a primary abnormality in the development of an organ or structure that occurs during embryogenesis, not due to an outside influence. Deformation involves changes in normal growth due to mechanical forces, such as positional abnormalities, but does not arise from an interruption of structures that were already formed. A genetic anomaly specifically pertains to alterations or mutations in genetic material that can lead to congenital conditions, distinguishing it from disruptions that are dependent on external intervening factors rather than genetics alone.