Spina Bifida: Morphological Features, Molecular Regulations and Signal Pathways

Abstract

The main aim of this article is to review the knowledge about the closure defect of the vertebral column calls spina bifida. The anatomic, embryologic and molecular biologic knowledge about this condition is reevaluated with checking the contentful dry bone collection. Determined spina bifida samples, types in any part of vertebral column reviewed under the light of increasing recent literature. The review also gives attention to the cervical, thoracic regional, anterior and partial closure defect possibilities and clinical conditions, which are not emphasized adequately and are thought as a separate case status but are severe or mild types of spina bifida. Most common sites, especially sacral region of spina bifida and present incidence in different nations assessed and compared with our dry bone series. Regional incidence, types and clinical conditions of spina bifida reviewed under the light of the recent embryologic and molecular biologic studies. This review will give tidy think and aspect of morphology and clinics of spina bifida throughout of the vertebral column.