Authors

Estefanía Bueno Montero

Position

Enfermera y especialista obstétrico-ginecológica (matrona), matrona en Hospital materno infantil de Badajoz.

Contact email: buenoestefania@hotmail.es

Abstract

Significant medical advances have currently resulted in a detailed knowledge of embryon development; besides all structures for the future neonate, at week 6 after fertilization, neural tube closure occurs.

In most cases, the closure is uneventful, but sometimes a correct closure is not achieved, resulting in what is known as a "neural tube defect" (NTD)

NTD result from an altered closure and can have a serious impact at two main levels: spine and brain, causing a spina bifida.

Spina bifida has a multifactorial etiology. However, nowadays an association of a folic acid deficiency during the periconceptional period with an increased NTD prevalence has been established.

Keywords:

Spina bifida; neural tube defects; folic acid; congenital abnormalities; pregnancyprevention

Versión en Español

Título:

Prevenir los defectos del tubo neural: los folatos durante la gestación