Anencephaly: When the Neural Tube Fails to Close during the First Month of Pregnancy

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Between day twenty-five and twenty-seven of pregnancy, normally before a woman even knows she is pregnant, the neural tube that ultimately becomes the brain and spinal cord begins to develop and eventually close. When the neural tube fails to close, the outcome is a neural tube defect called anencephaly.
Anencephaly is a congenital birth defect and is characterized by the absence of the prosencephalon (fore-brain), cerebrum, cerebellum, and cranium. Part of the brain-stem is usually present. The head usually stops just above the eyebrows and slopes backwards. Since the head stops so suddenly, many babies appear to have bulging eyes. Some are born with cyclopia, the presence of only one eye centered in the middle of the forehead. Anencephalic babies have been known to be called “frog babies” due to their appearance. There may or may not be skin covering the opening of the head, making part of the brain visible. Babies born with anencephaly are said to be unable to hear, feel, or see and only have reflex behaviors such as breathing and responding to sound or touch. Without the cerebrum, the child will never gain consciousness. Heart defects are also common. The prognosis is death within minutes to a few days after birth.
As the most common neural tube defect, the Centers for Disease Control estimates that 1 in every 4,859 babies are born with anencephaly here in the United States. More females are diagnosed than males, with a ratio of 3 to 2. The diagnosis is made by performing an ultrasound and an amniocentesis. An ultrasound detects high levels of amniotic fluid (polyhydramnios), which is a symptom of brain and nervous system disorders and makes the probability of premature birth twice as likely. An amniocentesis is used to di...

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...e allows the family to begin the journey to healing.

Works Cited

"Anencephaly." Anencephaly. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 May 2014.
Choe, Jaywon. "Boy Born without a Brain Dies after Three-year 'miracle Life'" Mail Online. Associated Newspapers, 02 Nov. 2012. Web. 14 May 2014.
"Facts about Anencephaly." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 15 July 2013. Web. 13 May 2014.
"Frequently Asked Questions about Anencephaly." FAQ about Anencephaly. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 May 2014.
Gilman, Samantha J. "Use of Anencephalic Infants as an Organ Source: An On-Going Question, The." Elon L. Rev. 4 (2012): 71.
"Rare Birth Defects Still Spiking in Washington State - NBC News." NBC News. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 May 2014.
"Unconscious Life: The Occurrence and Complications of Anencephaly." Serendip Studio. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 May 2014.

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