NEURAL TUBE DEFECTS
Definition :
The development of the central nervous system (CNS) begins early in embryonic
development with the formation of the neural tube. The neural tube is a structure that
eventually gives rise to the brain and spinal cord.
Failure of the normal folding of neural tube to give rise to brain and spinal cord will lead
to to serious congenital malformations in the neonate known as neural tube defects.
Types :
PRIMARY NEURAL TUBE DEFECTS SECONDARY NEURAL TUBE
DEFECTS
Myelomeningocele Meningocele
Encephalocele Lipomeningocele
Anencephaly Sacral agenesis/dysgenesis
Diastematomyelia
Myelocystocele
Causes :
● Folic acid deficiency during pregnancy.
● Maternal intake of carbamazepine and valproic acid and folic acid antagonists such as
aminopterin and certain antimalarial drugs during pregnancy.
● Maternal diabetes
● Prenatal irradiation
● Neural tube defects are also associated with trisomies 13 and 18, triploidy, and Meckel’s
syndrome and other chromosomal abnormalities.
Definition :
The development of the central nervous system (CNS) begins early in embryonic
development with the formation of the neural tube. The neural tube is a structure that
eventually gives rise to the brain and spinal cord.
Failure of the normal folding of neural tube to give rise to brain and spinal cord will lead
to to serious congenital malformations in the neonate known as neural tube defects.
Types :
PRIMARY NEURAL TUBE DEFECTS SECONDARY NEURAL TUBE
DEFECTS
Myelomeningocele Meningocele
Encephalocele Lipomeningocele
Anencephaly Sacral agenesis/dysgenesis
Diastematomyelia
Myelocystocele
Causes :
● Folic acid deficiency during pregnancy.
● Maternal intake of carbamazepine and valproic acid and folic acid antagonists such as
aminopterin and certain antimalarial drugs during pregnancy.
● Maternal diabetes
● Prenatal irradiation
● Neural tube defects are also associated with trisomies 13 and 18, triploidy, and Meckel’s
syndrome and other chromosomal abnormalities.
