Spina Bifida
What is Spina Bifida? Spina bifida is a birth defect that occurs when the spine and spinal cord do not grow normally during pregnancy affecting 3 out of 10,000 children born worldwide. The problem is classed as a type of neural tube defect. The neural tube is the structure that eventually produces the baby's brain, spinal cord, and the tissues that surround and protect these structures during embryonic development. The creation of the neural tube begins on the 28th day after conception in a normal pregnancy. Spina bifida occurs when a part of the neural tube does not close or develop properly, causing problems with the spinal cord and the bones of the spine in infants and children. Other types of Spina Bifida Other types of spina bifida include: Spina Bifida Occulta: The mildest kind of spina bifida is spina bifida occulta. Spina bifida occulta is often known as "hidden" spina bifida. There is a small gap in the spine with it, but there is no opening or sac on the back. ...