Spina Bifida: Cassia Rosas Professor Olson Wri 116

Spina Bifida Cassia Rosas Professor Olson WRI 116

What is Spina Bifida? 

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Literally means “split spine” A neural tube defect (NTD) Spina Bifida occurs when the lower end of the neural tube fails to close Anencephaly is also a NTD that results when the upper end of the neural tube does not close Anencephaly, unlike

Formation of the neural tube

http://w3.cns.org/university/pediatrics/Ch1Figure4.jpg

http://www.mayoclinic.org/images/spina-bifida-lgenlg.jpg

Neural Tube Defects S p in a B ifid a

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A n e n ce p h a ly

http://www.scienceclarified.com/images/uesc_02_img0090.jpg http://www.folicacid.net/images/Anencephaly.gif

Types of Spina Bifida 

Occulta 

Mildest and most common form

 Meningocele  Myelomeningocele  Most

severe form

http://www.neurosurgery.ufl.edu/patients/images/NEJM_neural-tubedefect.gif

What Causes Spina Bifida?  Unknown  Scientists

believe environmental and genetic elements cause this defect  There are various factors that allow people to be at risk

Folic Acid 

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Keeps blood healthy and helps body produce new cells Reduces neural tube defects by 70% to 80% 400 mcg before pregnancy and 800 mcg during pregnancy Found in vitamin supplements and food products Http://www.everywomancalifornia.org/documents/UserFiles/Image/folic_acid_supplement( 1).jpg

Other Risk Factors  Race  Gender  Anti-seizure

medications

 Diabetes  Obesity  Increased

body temperature

Prenatal Tests Can Detect Spina Bifida  Medical

Ultrasonography  Maternal Serum Alpha Fetoprotein (MSAFP)  Amniocentesis

http://weill.cornell.edu/cms/health_library/images/ei_0023.jpg

http://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/var/sciencelearn/storage/images/contexts/ see_through_body/ sci_med ia/neural_tube_defect_ultrasound/18029-4-eng NZ/neural_tube_defect_ultrasound_full_size_landscape. jpg

http://www.thecamreport.com/images/SpinaBifida.jpg

Questions?