spina bifida

any developmental anomaly in which the vertebral canal fails to close normally around the spinal cord; it is a neural tube defect. Individuals with spina bifida have difficulty with sensation, ambulation, and bowel and bladder control; experience weakness or paralysis of the muscles of the legs or feet; and are susceptible to infection. Meningomyelocele is the most common form of spina bifida.

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Psychology term of the day

January 19th 2025

short-wavelength pigment

the photopigment present in one of the three populations of retinal cones that has maximum sensitivity to a wavelength of 419 nm. The absence of the gene for the short-wavelength pigment causes tritanopia, a form of color blindness in which blue and green are confused with one another. See also long-wavelength pigment; medium-wavelength pigment.