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 ]

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 ...

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.