Pathological anatomy of spina bifida

Abstract

Spina bifida occulta results from incomplete closure of the neural tube around the twentieth day of embryonic development [1]. Spina bifida was described in the medieval literature and was recognized even earlier. Indeed, the association of foot deformities with sacral hypertrichosis may be the origin of the mythological figure of the satyr [2]. The term spina bifida encompasses the entire central nervous system, ranging from merely an absent spinous process through to myelomeningocele (MMC), Chiari malformation and hydrocephalus to cortical cytoarchitectural changes [2]. © 2008 Springer-Verlag Italia.