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 tells you that her 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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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The birth defect that Sarah most likely has is spina bifida. This is a condition in which the neural tube, which develops into the spinal cord and brain, fails to close properly during gestation. This can result in varying degrees of paralysis, including paralysis from the waist down, as well as other complications such as hydrocephalus and bladder and bowel dysfunction. Anencephaly is a condition in which the brain does not develop properly, neuronal migration refers to the process of neurons migrating to their proper location in the brain during gestation, and multiple sclerosis is a neurological condition that typically develops later in life and is not a birth defect.

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