A not uncommon congenital defect in which a vertebra is malformed

• Unless several vertebrae are affected or there is myelomeningocele there are few symptoms
• Can be diagnosed by amniocentesis

WordNet Word definitions in WordNet
n. a not uncommon congenital defect in which a vertebra is malformed; unless several vertebrae are affected or there is myelomeningocele there are few symptoms; can be diagnosed by amniocentesis [syn: spina bifida , schistorrhachis ]

Wiktionary Word definitions in Wiktionary
n. A developmental birth defect in which the neural tube fails to close completely, leading to motor and sensory deficits, chronic infections, and disturbances in bladder function.

Wikipedia Word definitions in Wikipedia
Rachischisis ( Greek : "rhachis - ῥάχις" - spine, and "schisis - σχίσις" - split) is a developmental birth defect involving the neural tube . This anomaly occurs in utero, when the posterior neuropore of the neural tube fails to close by the 27th intrauterine ...