Neural tube defects are caused by the abnormal closure of neural folds and can be influenced by teratogens and multifactorial genetic and environmental factors. Spina bifida is a general term used for neural tube defects in the spinal region where the vertebral arches are split apart and the underlying nervous tissue may or may not be involved. Spina bifida occulta involves a defective vertebral arch covered by skin, while spina bifida cystica features a protrusion in the form of a sac where the underlying neural tissue is involved along with the meninges. Hydrocephalus can develop in spina bifida cystica when the spinal cord is tethered to the vertebral column, pulling the cerebellum through the

1. NEURAL TUBE DEFECTS

2. CAUSES
 Abnormal closure of neural folds
 Teratogens
 Multifactorial(involving both genetic and environmental factors)

3. SPINA BIFIDA
 General term used for NTDs in spinal region
 Vertebral arches split apart
 Underlying nervous tissue may or may not be involved

4. SPINA BIFIDA OCCULTA
AND CYSTICA
Vertbral arches defective defective
Skin Patch of hair over the
defect
Protrusion in the
form of sac
Underlying neural
tissue
Not involved Involved alongwith
meninges
Region in which they
are most common
Lumbosacral Lumbosacral region

5. S.B with
myeloschisis/Rachi
schisis
S.B. with
Meningeocoele
S.B with
Meningeomyelocoe
le
Failure of neural
folds to elevate
Only meninges
involved
Underlying nervous
tissue also involved

6. WHY DOE S HY DROCE PHALUS DE VE L OP
IN SP. BIFIDA CYSTICA?
Spinal cord is tethered to vertebral column and as it elongates,it pulls
the cerebellum through the foramen magnum thus cutting off the
flow of CSF and producing hydrocephalus.

7. TREATMENT
 400mg of folic acid is given 2-3 months before pregnancy and
continued throughout the gestation