From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishspina bifidaspi‧na bif‧i‧da /ˌspaɪnə ˈbɪfədə/ noun [uncountable] MIa serious condition in which a person’s spine does not develop correctly before they are born, so that their spinal cord is not protected
Examples from the Corpus
spina bifida• In severe cases it gives rise to the condition known as spina bifida.• Folate deficiency causes anaemia, but occasionally is associated with neural tube defects such as spina bifida.• She has spina bifida and related disabilities and gets around the classroom in a wheelchair that she is just learning to navigate.• The large majority - around 60% - of cases in this group have spina bifida or spinal gaps.• Felix and Gerald, whom he recognises from his special school, have spina bifida and hydrocephalus.• Hydrocephalus can now be treated by the use of a valve similar to that used for cases of spina bifida.• Severe spina bifida was the first condition in which a policy of selective non-treatment was clearly enunciated.• Only 10% of children born with spina bifida are brain damaged.Origin spina bifida (1700-1800) Modern Latin “spine split in two” 