Sarah is a 20-year-old college student who is paralyzed from the waist down. She can walk with difficulty using crutches but prefers her wheelchair. Sarah's condition is due to a birth defect that occurs when the neural tube fails to close during gestation. Which of the following birth defects does Sarah most likely have?

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Spina bifida is a birth defect that occurs when the neural tube fails to close during gestation, resulting in incomplete development of the spinal cord and/or vertebrae. Paralysis from the waist down is a common symptom of spina bifida, and individuals with this condition often use crutches or wheelchairs for mobility. Anencephaly is a neural tube defect that results in the absence of a major portion of the brain, neuronal migration refers to the movement of nerve cells during embryonic development and is not a birth defect, and multiple sclerosis is a neurological disorder that affects the central nervous system and is not typically present at birth.

Sarah Is a 20-Year-Old College Student Who Is Paralyzed from the Waist