Final answer:
Malrotation is a condition where fetal intestines do not correctly rotate and attach within the abdomen. Failure to do so can cause serious complications, including volvulus, requiring urgent medical attention.
Step-by-step explanation:
Malrotation is a condition where the intestines do not properly rotate and fix in the abdomen during fetal development. This is a critical process that usually occurs during the first trimester of pregnancy when the intestines elongate and undergo a series of rotations and attach to the wall of the abdomen. If these rotations do not occur or are incomplete, the result can be malrotation, which might lead to complications like volvulus, where the intestine becomes twisted on itself, obstructing blood flow, which can become a life-threatening emergency.