What birth defect occurs when the spine and spinal cord do not form properly?

The condition characterized by the improper formation of the spine and spinal cord is known as spina bifida. This defect happens during early fetal development, when the neural tube, which forms the spine and surrounding structures, does not close completely. As a result, this incomplete closure can lead to various complications, including exposure of the spinal cord and surrounding tissues, which can cause varying degrees of disability depending on the severity and location of the defect.

Spina bifida is a subset of neural tube defects, and it can manifest in different ways, such as spina bifida occulta, where the defect is hidden and mild, or more severe forms like myelomeningocele, where the spinal cord and nerves protrude through the opening in the spine. Myelomeningocele is often considered when discussing spina bifida specifically, as it represents one of the more serious manifestations of the condition, but spina bifida, as a general term, encompasses the entire spectrum.

Developmental dysplasia of the hip, clubfoot, and myelomeningocele are different conditions and do not refer specifically to the improper formation of the spine and spinal cord in the same way that spina bifida does. Myelomeningocele is indeed related to