A severe birth defect in which both the skull and spinal column fail to close properly, exposing brain and spinal cord tissue.
From cranio- + rhachis (Greek for spine) + -schisis (Greek for cleft, split). A medical term for a catastrophic developmental failure.
Craniorhachischisis is one of the most serious neural tube defects—it's related to conditions prevented by folic acid in pregnancy, which is why prenatal vitamins contain this crucial nutrient.
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