California BIRTH Defects Monitoring

What are Neural Tube Defects (NTDs)?

NTDs occur when the neural tube does not close properly. The neural tube forms the early brain and spine. These types of birth defects develop very early during pregnancy, often before a woman knows she is pregnant. The two most common NTDs are spina bifida (a spinal cord defect) and anencephaly (a brain defect).

Content provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). For information and references about NTDs, please visit: Facts about Neural Tube Defects, What is Spina Bifida? and Facts about Encephalocele.