Congenital defects of closure of one or more vertebral arches, which may be associated with malformations of the spinal cord, nerve roots, congenital fibrous bands, lipomas, and congenital cysts. These malformations range from mild (e.g., SPINA BIFIDA OCCULTA) to severe, including rachischisis where there is complete failure of neural tube and spinal cord fusion, resulting in exposure of the spinal cord at the surface. Spinal dysraphism includes all forms of spina bifida. The open form is called SPINA BIFIDA CYSTICA and the closed form is SPINA BIFIDA OCCULTA. (From Joynt, Clinical Neurology, 1992, Ch55, p34)

Descriptor ID	D016135
MeSH Number(s)	C10.500.680.800 C16.131.666.680.800
Concept/Terms	Spinal Dysraphism Spinal Dysraphism Dysraphism, Spinal Dysraphisms, Spinal Spinal Dysraphisms Spinal Dysraphia Dysraphia, Spinal Dysraphias, Spinal Spinal Dysraphias Schistorrhachis Spina Bifida Bifida, Spina Spina Bifidas Cleft Spine Open Spine Status Dysraphicus Status Dysraphicus Dysraphicus, Status Rachischisis Rachischisis Rachischises

Below are MeSH descriptors whose meaning is more general than "Spinal Dysraphism".

Below are MeSH descriptors whose meaning is related to "Spinal Dysraphism".

Below are MeSH descriptors whose meaning is more specific than "Spinal Dysraphism".