Question

Neural tube defects are abnormalities that occur in the brain or spinal cord of a developing embryo and are present at birth. Each year, approximately 1500 babies are born with spina bifida. (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 2013). Research neural tube defects and answer the following questions:

Where is neural tube closure initiated and how does it proceed?

What week in gestation is the process completed?

What are the different types of neural tube defects and how can most be prevented?

What is the treatment for the various neural tube defects

What type of research is currently being done?

Answer 1

1)The closure of the neural tube (NT) in the human embryo has generally been described as a continuous process that begins at the level of the future cervical region and proceeds both rostrally and caudally. on the other hand multiple initiation sites of NT closure have been demonstrated in mice and other animals.

2)Neurulation is the critical morphogenetic event occuring during the fourth week of human gestation, converting the previously developed neural plated into the ectoderm covered neural tube that will eventually differentiate into the brain and spinal cord.

3)Neural tube defects are birth defects of brain ,spine, or spinal cord . They happen in the first month of pregnancy, often before a woman even knows that she is pregnant. The two most common neural tube defects are spina bifida and anencephaly . In spina bifida, the fetal spinal column doesn't close completely.There is usually nerve damage that causes at least some paralysis of the legs . In anencephaly, most of the brain and skull do not develop. Another type of defect chiari malformation causes brain tissue to extend in to the spinal canal. Getting enough follic acid, a type of B vitamin, before and during pregnancy prevents most neural tube defects Neural tube defects are usually diagnosed before the infant is born through lab or imaging tests.There is no cure for neural tube defects.

4)Neurosurgical intervention is the main stay of treatment for open neural tube defects(NTDs) ,closed NTDs typically do not warrant urgent surgery.

5)The pregnancy and perinatology branch supports research into the detection and treatment of spina bifida most prominently PPB supported researches have validated positive out comes from in utero surgery to repair the most severe cases of spina bifida, myelomeningocele.