| Spina bifida is a serious birth defect that occurs when | | | | and mobility difficulties, most individuals have some |
| the tissue surrounding the developing spinal cord of a | | | | form of learning disability. Spina bifida may also cause |
| fetus does not close properly during the first month of | | | | bowel and bladder complications, and many children |
| pregnancy. It is part of a group of birth defects called | | | | with spina bifida have hydrocephalus (excessive |
| neural tube defects, a disorder involving incomplete | | | | accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain). |
| development of the brain, spinal cord, and/or their | | | | The three most common types of spina bifida are: |
| protective coverings. | | | | - Myelomeningocele. The severest form, in which the |
| In babies with spina bifida, a portion of the neural tube | | | | spinal cord and its protective covering (the meninges) |
| fails to develop or close properly, causing defects in | | | | protrude from an opening in the spine. |
| the spinal cord and in the bones of the backbone. | | | | - Meningocele. The spinal cord develops normally but |
| Infants born with spina bifida sometimes have an open | | | | the meninges protrude from a spinal opening. |
| lesion on their spine where significant damage to the | | | | - Occulta. The mildest form, in which one or more |
| nerves and spinal cord has occurred. Although the | | | | vertebrae are malformed and covered by a layer of |
| spinal opening can be surgically repaired shortly after | | | | skin. |
| birth, the nerve damage is permanent, resulting in | | | | Spina bifida is one of the more common birth defects |
| varying degrees of paralysis of the lower limbs. Even | | | | in the United States. The incidence of spina bifida can |
| when there is no lesion present there may be | | | | be decrease by up to 70 percent when a daily folic |
| improperly formed or missing vertebrae and | | | | acid supplement is taken prior to conception. |
| accompanying nerve damage. In addition to physical | | | | |