A male newborn infant has been diagnosed with spina bifida occulta. Which of the following pathophysiological processes has most likely contributed to the infant's health problem?
A) The neural groove failed to fuse and completely close across the top of the neural plate.
B) The infant's spinal cord and meninges protrude through his skin.
C) The child's central and peripheral nervous systems have insufficiently differentiated during embryonic development.
D) The infant's soma and viscera are underdeveloped.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Spina bifida occulta is characterized by incomplete closure of the axial groove around the ectodermal tube (neural tube). Protrusion of the spinal cord and meninges through the skin is associated with meningomyelocele. Insufficient development of the CNS, PNS, soma, or viscera is not considered a central characteristic of spina bifida occulta.

A Male Newborn Infant Has Been Diagnosed with Spina Bifida