Broader Terms:

Scope Note:

congenital malformation of the nervous system caused by failure of the anterior neuropore to close; infants are born with intact spinal cords, cerebellums, and brainstems, but lack formation of neural structures above this level; the skull is only partially formed but the eyes are usually normal; affected infants are only capable of primitive reflexes and usually do not survive for more than two weeks; complete absence of the brain is rare.

Term Number:

0723-2890