Chiari type 2 malformations form during development, inside the womb, and are part of the condition known as spina bifidaDuring development, at each level of the spine two plates of bone migrate towards one another and fuse, in the midline, forming what are referred to as spinous processes. It is the tips of these spinous processes that we feel when running a finger down our spines. Sometimes one or more of the pairs of plates fail to fuse adequately, such that two, shorter spinous processes form on each side of the midline. This is what is referred to as spina bifida. It affects most commonly the lower part of the spine, in the lumbar region. Many people may quite unaware that they have such split (or, more specifically, never joined), spinous processes. Plain radiographs, or magnetic resonance imaging, may.... Spina bifidaDuring development, at each level of the spine two plates of bone migrate towards one another and fuse, in the midline, forming what are referred to as spinous processes. It is the tips of these spinous processes that we feel when running a finger down our spines. Sometimes one or more of the pairs of plates fail to fuse adequately, such that two, shorter spinous processes form on each side of the midline. This is what is referred to as spina bifida. It affects most commonly the lower part of the spine, in the lumbar region. Many people may quite unaware that they have such split (or, more specifically, never joined), spinous processes. Plain radiographs, or magnetic resonance imaging, may... is also very commonly associated with hydrocephalusMeaning “water on (or in) the brain”, this word refers to an anatomical state in which there is an abnormally large volume of cerebrospinal fluid within the head. Most often this excess fluid accumulates within the ventricles of the brain and the word ventriculomegaly may be used synonymously. Some authorities teach that the word ventriculomegaly simply describes large ventricles and that the word hydrocephalus should be reserved to indicate that the enlarged ventricles are generating symptoms. Cerebrospinal fluid may also accumulate over the surface of the brain but inside the dura, in which case the term “external hydrocephalus” is sometimes used. Read more, which may be the dominant cause of symptoms, with the associated Chiari type 2 malformation being essentially asymptomatic. Other anatomical abnormalities associated with Chiari type 2 are tethered cordDuring development, inside the womb, the skeletal parts of the spine grow at a faster rate than does the spinal cord. This differential rate of growth continues after birth, into early childhood. At birth the lower-most part of the spinal cord (known as the conus) lies level with the 3rd lumbar vertebra. By late adolescence it has risen to a point level with the 1st lumbar vertebra, in which position it remains throughout adult life. Sometimes, however, the conus does not rise in this way and is then described as being low-lying, or tethered. Sometimes such tethering can generate pain and neurological symptoms, particularly during the adolescent growth spurt. Sometimes, therefore, there may be a role for surgical “untethering”ofalow-lyingcordinanadolescentpatient. Itremainsamatterof..., lipomas, dermoidThis is a tumour which is made up of skin tissue that has become displaced, during embryonic development, and that has come to lie inside the cranial cavity, or the spinal canal. It is not a growth as such and is not malignant but it does expand slowly, over many years, as skin cells are shed into the centre of the mass. tumours and diastematomyeliaA nightmare word for medical secretaries to type, from dictation. It refers to a bony spur, or a fibrous band, that passes through the spinal cord, from front to back. It is a congenital abnormality. It is commonly associated with spina bifida and syringomyelia and can be a cause of a tethered cord., as well as syringomyeliaA cavity, within the spinal cord, which is filled with cerebrospinal fluid. Syringomyelia cavities come in various “shapes and sizes”, from short, spindle-shaped cavities through to long, tense cavities extending throughout the greater part of the spinal cord. Read more.