. The word, spina bifida is derived from two words; spina meaning spine, and the word bifida meaning split or divided. Spina bifida is a neural tube defect that occurs when an embryo’s spinal cord, the surrounding nerves and/or spinal column fail to develop. This usually happens during the first month of pregnancy. According the article, Working with Spina Bifida, a professor by the name of Nicholas Tulp, “gave spina bifida its name and gave the first formative description of the disability.” This discovery is believed to have taken place between 1618 and 1652. It wasn’t until almost a century later that Giovanni Battista Morgagni, a famous Italian medical researcher and anatomist made the most significant discovery on Spina Bifida. In 1761, he proved the association of hydrocephalus …show more content…
A meningocele is a sac protruding from the spinal column. This sac usually contains some of the spinal fluid and meninges. The sac may or may not be covered with skin or with the meninges, and does not contain neural tissue. It may be located near the brain or along the spinal column. The severity of this condition depends on where the protrusion is located in the spine. In this form the vertebrae usually develop normally, but the meninges are forced into the gaps between the vertebrae. With this type of spina bifida the nervous system usually remains undamaged. In most cases patients are unlikely to suffer any long term health issues, but could experience symptoms such as complete paralysis with bladder and bowel dysfunction. This condition often changes severity based on the location of the protrusion. When a Meningocele forms at the base of the skull, it is often more severe than a protrusion in the lumbar region of the spine. According to Spina Bifida Wikipedia, “Causes of Meningocele include teratoma and other tumors of the sacrococcyx and of the presacral space and Currarino