Definition of: heterotaxis

(het′ər·ə·tak′sis) noun
1. Pathol. A malformation caused by displacement or lateral transposition of organs.
2. Any irregular or abnormal arrangement of parts, as of rock strata, geographic features, etc.: opposed to homotaxis. Also het′er·o·tax′i·a (-tak′sē·ə), het′er·o·tax′y (-tak′sē). [<NL <Gk. hetero- other + taxis arrangement]
—het′er·o·tac′tic (-tak′tik), het′er·o·tax′ic (-tak′sik) adjective