Which malformation occurs when meninges and skin protrude through a lumbosacral spine defect forming a CSF bulge?

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Multiple Choice

Which malformation occurs when meninges and skin protrude through a lumbosacral spine defect forming a CSF bulge?

The key idea is distinguishing the different spina bifida lesions by what protrudes and whether neural tissue is involved. A lump at the lumbosacral area that is a CSF-filled sac lined by meninges, with skin covering it and no spinal cord tissue inside the sac, fits meningocele. The sac is made up of meninges and CSF rather than neural tissue, so there’s typically no neurological deficit from the protrusion itself. If neural tissue were part of the bulge, that would be a meningomyelocele and often brings neurological problems. Spina bifida occulta involves a vertebral defect without any protruding sac, and spinal lipoma involves fat tissue rather than a CSF-filled meninges sac.

The key idea is distinguishing the different spina bifida lesions by what protrudes and whether neural tissue is involved. A lump at the lumbosacral area that is a CSF-filled sac lined by meninges, with skin covering it and no spinal cord tissue inside the sac, fits meningocele. The sac is made up of meninges and CSF rather than neural tissue, so there’s typically no neurological deficit from the protrusion itself. If neural tissue were part of the bulge, that would be a meningomyelocele and often brings neurological problems. Spina bifida occulta involves a vertebral defect without any protruding sac, and spinal lipoma involves fat tissue rather than a CSF-filled meninges sac.

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