Anencephaly Definition, Causes & More
Article Sources
- 1. 'Facts about Anencephaly.' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 28 Dec. 2020, www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/birthdefects/anencephaly.html.
- 2. 'Facts about Anencephaly.' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 28 Dec. 2020, www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/birthdefects/anencephaly.html.
- 3. 'Anencephaly: MedlinePlus Genetics.' MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 18 Aug. 2020. medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/anencephaly/#synonyms.
- 4. 'Anencephaly.' Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment for Newborns | St. Louis Childrens Hospital, www.stlouischildrens.org/conditions-treatments/anencephaly.
- 5. 'Anencephaly: Neural Tube Defect, Birth Defect, Causes, Prevention.' Cleveland Clinic, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15032-anencephaly.
3. What Causes Anencephaly?
Anencephaly starts during the first weeks of pregnancy, when the neural tube is forming. The neural tube should close, so the brain and spinal cord can form properly, but in some cases it doesn’t close all the way. This leads to anencephaly.1‘Facts about Anencephaly.’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 28 Dec. 2020, www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/birthdefects/anencephaly.html.
Why this happens is not fully understood. Most of the time it is not inherited, although genetics play a role. Researchers believe it is a combination of genetic and environmental factors, and not all of these factors are known.3‘Anencephaly: MedlinePlus Genetics.’ MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 18 Aug. 2020. medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/anencephaly/#synonyms.
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