Diseases

Spina Bifida Occulta

A common congenital midline defect of fusion of the vertebral arch without protrusion of the spinal cord or meninges. The lesion is also covered by skin. L5 and S1 are the most common vertebrae involved. The condition may be associated with an overlying area of hyperpigmented skin, a dermal sinus, or an abnormal patch of hair. The majority of individuals with this malformation are asymptomatic although there is an increased incidence of tethered cord syndrome and lumbar SPONDYLOSIS. (From Joynt, Clinical Neurology, 1992, Ch55, p34)

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

A common congenital midline defect of fusion of the vertebral arch without protrusion of the spinal cord or meninges. The lesion is also covered by skin. L5 and S1 are the most common vertebrae involved. The condition may be associated with an overlying area of hyperpigmented skin, a dermal sinus, or an abnormal patch of hair. The majority of individuals with this malformation are asymptomatic although there is an increased incidence of tethered cord syndrome and lumbar SPONDYLOSIS. (From Joynt, Clinical Neurology, 1992, Ch55, p34)

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

Related Concepts

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MeSH Record

Synonyms

6 entry terms
  • Occult Spina Bifida
  • Spinal Bifida, Closed
  • Closed Spinal Bifida
  • Spina Bifida, Occult
  • Dermal Sinus
  • Sinus, Dermal

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

34 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings blood, cerebrospinal fluid, chemically induced, classification, complications, diagnosis, diagnostic imaging, diet therapy, drug therapy, economics, embryology, enzymology, epidemiology, ethnology, etiology, genetics, history, immunology, metabolism, microbiology, mortality, nursing, parasitology, pathology, physiopathology, prevention & control, psychology, radiotherapy, rehabilitation, surgery, therapy, urine, veterinary, virology.

MeSH Record

History Note

1991; was SPINA BIFIDA 1978-1990; for DERMAL SINUS use NEURAL TUBE DEFECTS 1979-1990

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Spinal Dysraphism (1966-1977)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. C10w.500w.680w.800.750
  2. C16w.131w.666w.680w.800.750

MeSH Record

NLM Classification

WE 730

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Spina Bifida Occulta. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D016136. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D016136
  2. Spina Bifida Occulta. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q21505502