Medical Subject Headings

Last uploaded: March 22, 2026
Id http://purl.bioontology.org/ontology/MESH/D000757
http://purl.bioontology.org/ontology/MESH/D000757
Preferred Name

Anencephaly

Definitions
A 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. This condition may be associated with folate deficiency. Affected infants are only capable of primitive (brain stem) reflexes and usually do not survive for more than two weeks. (From Menkes, Textbook of Child Neurology, 5th ed, p247)
Synonyms
Hemicranial Anencephaly
Congenital Absence of Brain
Anencephalia
Anencephaly, Incomplete
Absence of Brain, Congenital
Brain Congenital Absence
Anencephalias
Partial Anencephalies
Anencephalus
Aprosencephalies
Anencephaly, Partial
Partial Anencephaly
Anencephaly, Hemicranial
Aprosencephaly
Incomplete Anencephaly
Anencephalies, Partial
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Type http://www.w3.org/2002/07/owl#Class
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