spina bifida

• POS: Noun Phrase
• HYPHEN: spi=na bi=fi=da

CIDE DICTIONARY

spina bifida,  [L., cleft spine.].

 A congenital malformation in which the spinal column is cleft at its lower portion, and the membranes of the spinal cord project as an elastic swelling from the gap thus formed.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

spina bifida, n. a congenital defect of the spine, in which part of the spinal cord and its meninges are exposed through a gap in the backbone.

Etymology

mod.L (as SPINE, BIFID)