Neural tube defects include spina bifida occulta, meningocele, and myelomeningocele.

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Spina bifida is a group of malformations of the spine in which the posterior portion of the bony canal containing the spinal cord (usually in the lumbar region) is completely or partially absent (see Figure 2-14, A). Also called neural tube defects, the three different levels of the condition originate during early weeks of gestation as the spinal cord and bony canal develop. During this developmental stage, there is a failure of the posterior spinal processes to close, usually in the lumbar region. This failure of complete closure allows the meninges and, in severe cases, the spinal cord to herniate. Depending on the extent of the herniation and the amount of the neural tube that has herniated, various degrees of neural deficits or impairment occur. The three types of spina bifida are spinal bifida occulta, meningocele, and myelomeningocele.

Neural Tube Defects Include Spina Bifida Occulta, Meningocele, and Myelomeningocele