spina bifida

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

spina bifida
    n 1: 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},
         {rachischisis}, {schistorrhachis}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Spina bifida \Spi"na bif"i*da\ (Med.) [L., cleft spine.]
   A congenital malformation in which the spinal column is cleft
   at its lower portion, and the membranes of the spinal cord
   project as an elastic swelling from the gap thus formed.
   [1913 Webster]

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