spina bifida

noun

spi·​na bi·​fi·​da ˌspī-nə-ˈbi-fə-də 

: a congenital cleft of the spinal column with hernial protrusion of the meninges and sometimes the spinal cord

Examples of spina bifida in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

At Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Peranteau is part of a team that has performed surgeries on fetuses with birth defects like spina bifida, where the spinal cord is exposed during birth. — Gerry Smith, CNBC, 6 Nov. 2026

Turek is paraplegic and uses a wheelchair due to spina bifida. — Saige Miller, NPR, 6 Nov. 2026

Born with spina bifida and confined to a wheelchair after his father was exposed to Agent Orange in Vietnam, Turek is a four-time Paralympian and two-time gold medalist in wheelchair basketball. — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026

Born with spina bifida, believed to be a result of his father's exposure to chemicals during the Vietnam War, Turek credits Harkin's work to enact the Americans with Disabilities Act for his own achievements. — CBS News, 3 Nov. 2026

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, literally, spine split in two

First Known Use

1720, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

spina bifida

noun

spina bi·​fi·​da

-ˈbif-ə-də also -ˈbīf-

: a neural tube defect marked by congenital cleft of the spinal column usually with hernial protrusion of the meninges and sometimes the spinal cord see meningocele, myelocele, myelomeningocele