Spinal cord development occurs through three consecutive periods of gastrulation,
primary nerulation and secondary neurulation. Aberration in these stages causes abnormalities
of the spine and spinal cord, collectively referred as spinal dysraphism. They can
be broadly classified as anomalies of gastrulation (disorders of notochord formation
and of integration); anomalies of primary neurulation (premature dysjunction and nondysjunction);
combined anomalies of gastrulation and primary neurulation and anomalies of secondary
neurulation. Correlation with clinical and embryological data and common imaging findings
provides an organized approach in their diagnosis.
Keywords
Embryology - illustrated - magnetic resonance imaging - spinal dysraphism