The birth defect spina bifida results in part of the spinal cord lying outside of the body. This defect is due to abnormal development of the:

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Spina bifida is caused by abnormal development of the neural tube, which should normally form the spinal cord and other neural tissues. When the neural tube fails to close properly during early embryonic development, part of the spinal cord may protrude through the opening, leading to various degrees of disability. Gill grooves are structures seen in the pharyngeal region of fish and amphibian embryos, and have no relevance to human spinal cord development. The allantois is an embryonic structure that contributes to the formation of the placenta and the urinary bladder, but it is not directly involved in neural tube development. The placenta is a fetal organ that facilitates nutrient and waste exchange between the fetus and mother, and the embryonic disc is the structure that gives rise to the germ layers that will form the body tissues of the embryo. While these structures are important for embryonic development, they do not play a role in the development of spina bifida.

The Birth Defect Spina Bifida Results in Part of the Spinal