Fetus with MMC (IMAGE)

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Fetus with MMC

Caption

Part of the spinal cord and spinal nerves, usually encased in a sac, protrude through an opening in the back and is exposed to the amniotic fluid. The brainstem (hindbrain) descends, or herniates, into the spinal canal in the neck and blocks the flow of cerebrospinal fluid. This can cause a damaging buildup of fluid in the brain called hydrocephalus.

Credit

The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

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