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Description
1. What is spina bifida
2. There are three types of spina bifida?
3. What are the effects?
4. Hydrocephalus
5. Picture of Shunt
1. What is spina bifida?
Spina bifida is a Latin term meaning 'split spine'. It is a neural tube defect.
The nervous system forms in the first month of development. It starts off looking like a flat ribbon, then begins to change and sink down into the back of the embryo (neural groove).
As it sinks, the sides fold up (neural fold) and over and the edges fuse together to form a tube (the neural tube) which develops into the spinal cord and brain. The spinal vertebrae (backbones) then begin to form around the tube Please use the links above to learn more about spina bifida and the services that we are able to provide.
If part of the neural tube does not close, the spine also does not close, and spina bifida occurs.(The spine doesn't really split in half it just doesn't finish closing.)
In more severe forms, the spinal cord and coverings protrude through the opening, which means that nerve damage occurs.
There is no cure for spina bifida. Doctors operate as soon as possible to close the opening on the back, but there is no operation that can fix damaged nerves.
