Hello everyone. How has your week been so far? Today we'll be focusing on a topic that is critical to pregnancy and the development of a fetus. It's Neural Tube Defect. At about the 3rd week of pregnancy, in the first month, a significant development in the embryo begins. Formation of the what is known as the Neural tube begins. This neural tube is the progenitor organ that develops into the brain and spinal cord, in short the nervous system. During this process certain malformations can occur that leads to what is called Neural Tube Defect. Definition: Neural Tube Defect is said to occur when the neural tube fails to close completely and failure of this closure leads to two main types of neural tube defects which are Spina Bifida and Anencephaly. 1. Spina Bifida. In spina bifida, the fetal spinal column doesn't close completely. There's usually a nerve damage that causes at least some paralysis of the legs. The effects of Spina bif