Spina bifida

Spina bifida
A birth defect (a congenital malformation) in which there is a bony defect in the vertebral column so that part of the spinal cord, which is normally protected within the vertebral column, is exposed. People with spina bifida can suffer from bladder and bowel incontinence, cognitive (learning) problems and limited mobility. Spina bifida is caused by the failure of the neural tube to close during embryonic development. The neural tube is the embryonal structure that gives rise to the brain and spinal cord. The risk of spina bifida varies according to country, ethnic group and socioeconomic status. In the US as a whole, spina bifida occurs in about one in every 1-2,000 births. The risk of spina bifida and other neural tube defects such as anencephaly can be decreased by women taking folic acid supplements before they conceive and during the first months of their pregnancy. For more information about neural tube defects, see Spina Bifida & Anencephaly. Spina bifida is sometimes referred to as meningomyelocele.

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spina bi·fi·da -'bif-ə-dəalso -'bīf- n a neural tube defect marked by congenital cleft of the spinal column usu. with hernial protrusion of the meninges and sometimes the spinal cord see meningocele, myelocele, myelomeningocele

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a developmental defect in which the newborn baby has part of the spinal cord and its coverings exposed through a gap in the backbone. The symptoms may include paralysis of the legs, incontinence, and mental retardation from the commonly associated brain defect, hydrocephalus. Spina bifida is associated with an abnormally high level of alpha-fetoprotein in the amniotic fluid surrounding the embryo. The condition can be diagnosed at about the 16th week of pregnancy by a maternal blood test and confirmed by amniocentesis and ultrasound, so making termination of the pregnancy possible. The risk of spina bifida is reduced if supplements of folic acid are taken by women while trying to conceive and during the first three months of pregnancy. See also neural tube defects.

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a neural tube defect characterized by defective closure of the vertebral arch, through which the spinal cord and meninges may protrude (s. bifida cystica) or may not (s. bifida occulta). Cf. rachischisis. Called also hydrocele spinalis and cleft spine.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Spina bifida — Classification and external resources ICD 10 Q05, Q76.0 …   Wikipedia

  • spina-bifida — [ spinabifida ] n. m. inv. • 1810; mots lat. « épine (dorsale) bifide » ♦ Méd. Malformation congénitale qui consiste en une fissure d un ou de plusieurs arcs vertébraux postérieurs, pouvant se compliquer d une hernie des méninges et de la moelle… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • SPINA BIFIDA — (дословно ■ расщепленный позвоночник), объединяющее название для врожденных аномалий, характеризующихся неполным закрытием позвоночного канала и порочным развитием спинного мозга или его оболочек. Название дано Тульпиусом (Tulpius) в 1641 г …   Большая медицинская энциклопедия

  • Spina bifida —   [lateinisch bifidus »gespalten«] die, , Rachis|chisis, angeborene Hemmungsfehlbildung, bei der die Wirbelbögen unvollständig geschlossen sind (Spaltwirbel, Wirbelspalt); tritt meist nach außen gerichtet (dorsal) und im Kreuzbein oder Lendenteil …   Universal-Lexikon

  • spina bifida — [spī΄nə bif′i də] n. [ModL < L spina (see SPINE) + bifida, fem. of bifidus, BIFID] a congenital defect or opening in the spinal column through which the spinal membranes or spinal cord may protrude, often resulting in hydrocephalus, paralysis …   English World dictionary

  • spina bifida — ► NOUN ▪ a congenital defect in which part of the spinal cord is exposed through a gap in the backbone, and which can cause paralysis and other problems. ORIGIN Latin, from spina backbone, thorn + bifidus doubly split …   English terms dictionary

  • Spina bifida — Spi na bif i*da (Med.) [L., cleft spine.] A congenital malformation in which the spinal column is cleft at its lower portion, and the membranes of the spinal cord project as an elastic swelling from the gap thus formed. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Spina bifida — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Spina et Bifida. Le spina bifida (du latin signifiant « épine fendue en deux ») est une malformation congénitale liée à un défaut de fermeture du tube neural durant la vie embryonnaire. Le plus souvent… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Spina bifida — Klassifikation nach ICD 10 O35.0 Betreuung der Mutter bei (Verdacht auf) Fehlbildung des Zentralnervensystems beim Feten Q76.0 Spina bifida occulta …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • spina bifida — rachischisis a developmental defect in which the newborn baby has part of the spinal cord and its coverings exposed through a gap in the backbone. The symptoms may include paralysis of the legs, incontinence, and mental retardation from the… …   The new mediacal dictionary

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