What is "cranioschisis"

n. A developmental birth defect in which the cranium fails to close completely, so that the brain is exposed to the amnios and eventually degenerates, causing anencephaly.

Cranioschisis ( Greek: "κρανιον - kranion" skull, and "schisis - σχίσις" - split) is a developmental birth defect involving the skull. In this disease, the cranium fails to close completely (especially at the occipital region). Thus, the brain is exposed to the amnios, and eventually degenerates, causing anencephaly.