neural tube defect

American

noun

Pathology.

any of a group of congenital abnormalities involving the brain and spinal cord, including spina bifida and meningocele, caused by failure of the neural tube to close properly during embryonic development.

Etymology

Origin of neural tube defect

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

When this process fails, babies can have something called a neural tube defect, which includes spina bifida where, in the severest form, the spine is exposed and can be damaged.

From BBC • Oct. 24, 2023

Hall's fetus was diagnosed with anencephaly, a neural tube defect in which the brain, skull and scalp do not develop properly in the womb.

From Salon • Sep. 21, 2022

The fetus had a rare neural tube defect.

From New York Times • Nov. 26, 2021

My youngest kid was born with a neural tube defect called spina bifida.

From Slate • Oct. 1, 2018

A more severe neural tube defect is anencephaly, a partial or complete absence of brain tissue.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023