Question

Neural tube defects arise due to failure of the neuropores to fuse by the 4th week of pregnancy. This leaves a persistent connection between the amniotic cavity and the spinal canal. What is the term for this condition?

1) Spina bifida
2) Anencephaly
3) Hydrocephalus
4) Cleft palate

Answer 1

The condition described is called spina bifida, which is a birth defect of the spinal cord caused by the failure of the neural tube to completely close.

Step-by-step explanation:

The condition described, where there is a persistent connection between the amniotic cavity and the spinal canal due to the failure of the neuropores to fuse, is called spina bifida. Spina bifida is a birth defect of the spinal cord caused when the neural tube does not completely close, resulting in the emergence of meninges and neural tissue through the vertebral column.

Example: In ultrasound images, spina bifida can be seen as a fetal myelomeningocele, which is the protrusion of spinal tissue through the newborn's vertebral column.