What Happened In Anencephaly

At age two, most of the child's brain is not fully developed, it is seventy-five percent of adult weight. At age five the brain is ninety-five percent of adult weight. Based on solid scientific evidence, the brain is not a completed organ at birth. Post mortem studies reveal that myelination - one of the five basic processes that make up brain development begins in the brain stem and cerebellum before birth but is not completed in the frontal cortex of the brain until late adolescence period. Myelination process begins before birth, that is during the prenatal period - it is the first process to occur in brain development. Myelin, a fatty layer accumulates around nerve cells to allow nerve impulses to move more quickly - protecting the neuron and acting like an insulation for the human brain. The cerebral hemispheres are the first myelinated. By the second year, the cerebrum is completed. During the process of brain development, there is an increase in the axonal connection which contributes to the growth of the brain. According to neuroscientists, the brain is divided into two- the right hemisphere and the left hemisphere. The left side of the body is controlled by the right hemisphere, while the left side of the brain which is the dominant part controls the right side of the

Fetal distress or birth asphyxia means that there has been a change in organ systems due to the lack of oxygen in the body. Breech delivery is when the babies buttock comes out first instead of the head during birth. “Meconium is when the baby’s first stool is passed during pregnancy into the amniotic fluid.” If the baby is born with nuchal cord this means that the umbilical cord was around the baby’s neck (http://www.lpch.org).

Anencephaly is a congenital neurological disorder characterized by absence of the cerebrum and cerebellum, as well as the top of the skull, resulting in exposure of the brain stem. Even though the brain stem is exposed this does not mean that the babies brain or head is completely missing. This is considered one of the more serious birth defects that a baby can have because they baby will never have the brain power to grow and become an adult. Many of these babies are exposed to various infections and will only live up to one week even though some have lived up to one year at the most. Anencephalics are seen as a huge source of organ donation because they are not damaged like other babies such as babies who have been abused or babies that have been in car accidents. Many of these babies that need the organs of anencephalics are usually the ones who have heart defects. Parents such as Laura Campo heard about this type of donor possibility when she was pregnant at twenty four weeks and found out about her child being anencephalic there was no way for her to abort the baby because she was too far along. This resulted in Laura Campo going to the Florida District Court but since Laura’s baby girl who she named Theresa, by Harvard Law was not brain dead they were not allowed to use her organs for donation. The judge Estella Moriarty was begged by the family to pronounce her brain dead so they could save another child’s life but instead Theresa’s organs began to fail. Once her

Anencephaly is a congenital birth defect and is characterized by the absence of the prosencephalon (fore-brain), cerebrum, cerebellum, and cranium. Part of the brain-stem is usually present. The head usually stops just above the eyebrows and slopes backwards. Since the head stops so suddenly, many babies appear to have bulging eyes. Some are born with cyclopia, the presence of only one eye centered in the middle of the forehead.

back of the fetus’ head and the brains are extracted with suction. This allows the fetus to

Birth defects, also known as congenital anomalies, is the second leading cause of death for infant accounted for 20.9 percent of all infant deaths in U.S in 2011 (U.S. Dept, 2016).

The same media statement displays a chaotic tone when it dispels the instability to the public as it states, “no single piece of evidence provides conclusive proof that Zika virus infection is a cause of microcephaly and other fetal brain defects. This statement is critically flawed in contradiction, and serves only to confuse the public even further, about the possibilities of Zika virus causing microcephaly. It is clear the media at times serves to confuse, and terrorize the public, and nobody is off limits in the fearmongering game, perpetuated by mainstream media.

Spina bifida is a type of birth defect called a neural tube defect, it happens if the spinal column of the fetus does not close completely during the first month or pregnancy, that can damage the nerves and spinal cord" (U.S National Library Medicine, 2014). Spina bifida's symptoms are defending on how severe the defect is. Children with mild form of spina bifida do not have any problems. According to WebMD, children with the most severe form often, have spine, and brain issues that cause serious problems (2014). Scientists believed that spina bifida is caused by a condition of genetic and environmental factors such as the mother's nutrition. "The long-term problems associated with spina bifida are; bowel problems, muscles movement, sensation, intellect and education, sexual function, emotional and family support (which are the most, needed on both affected person and their family), and urine and kidney problem; almost all

Two years ago I could remember sitting in class as we discussed current topics that came on the news the night before. The topic of a baby who was born having Anencephaly condition stirred a controversial yet emotional debate. This is a condition where the rostral (head) end of the neural tube fails to close resulting in the absence of a major portion of the brain, skull, and scalp. In other words, the baby has ‘no brain’. The child was born having ‘frog-like’ features, protruding eyes, scaly skin. Also, there was the possibility that he could be blind and deaf. As we sat there sharing our own personal opinions of the situation, the question arose "what would you do if you were the parent of the child?" I started by saying I would have had an abortion the moment I realized that I was going to have a deformed child. I went on to say that I would have left "IT" at the hospital. My friends were extremely angered by the way I spoke about the baby; one got so upset that she started crying. "What have I done?" was my instant thought as I sat there heart pierced in dismay and embarrassment. She then asked the question, "What if your mom had aborted or left your brother at the hospital? What would you think of her?" In my mind, I believe that 's a different situation because his disability is different, so I thought. As I stopped to think, I looked how my de-humanized thoughts and selfish endeavors captivated my entire being. My mind was jailed with cruelty; I spoke like a barbaric

Spina bifida is one of the most common neural-tube defects, in which there is an incomplete

Holoprosencephaly (HPE) is a cephalic disorder in which the prosencephalon fails to develop into two hemispheres. Normally, the forebrain is formed and the face begins to develop in the fifth and sixth weeks of human pregnancy (1). According to decreasing severity, HPE is categorized into following types: alobar, semilobar, lobar, and middle interhemispheric variant. Its incidence is estimated up to be 1.2 in 10,000 to 20,000 at term and 1 in 250 spontaneous abortions (2-3). The condition can be mild or severe. According to the National Institute of Neurological disorders and Stroke "in most cases of holoprosencephaly, the malformations are so severe that babies die before birth" .When the embryo's forebrain does not divide to form bilateral

The closure of the neural tube does not occur simultaneously throughout the ectoderm. This is best seen in those vertebrates (such as birds and mammals) whose body axis is elongated prior to neurulation. Figure 12.5 depicts neurulation in a 24-hour chick embryo. Neurulation in the cephalic (head) region is well advanced, while the caudal (tail) region of the embryo is still undergoing gastrulation. Regionalization of the neural tube also occurs as a result of changes in the shape of the tube. In the cephalic end (where the brain will form), the wall of the tube is broad and thick. Here, a series of swellings and constrictions define the various brain compartments. Caudal to the head region, however, the neural tube remains a simple tube that

Dr. Jennifer V. Schmidt and her colleges research focuses on diseases and their genic causes. In this particular experiment, the researchers look at Congenital hydrocephalus, a disease that is present in 1 of 1000 children. The disease causes more cerebrospinal fluid to gather in the ventricles of the brain than needed. This study was conducted because of the number of children who have the disease and the lack of understanding the genetics behind the disease. In order to test the effects genetics have on the disease the researchers planted the gene inside mice. By 1.5 days after birth, expansion of lateral ventricles was observed. By weeks 4-8 the expansion of such ventricles was fatal and the mice displayed a decrease in their transcript

Anencephaly occurs in 1.4-4.7/10,000 deliveries and is occurred due to a failed closure of the anterior neuropore at 24-26 days post fertilization. It is characterized by congenital absence of the major portion of brain, skull and scalp. As a result, the cranial neural tissue is exposed. Sometimes, some development of cerebral hemispheres can occur but this exposed tissue may be destructed because of hemorrhage. , it leads to nonfunctioning of the cerebrum. The etiology behind this condition is still unknown and it can diagnosed by various prenatal methods as simple as an ultrasound. The aim

Baby Theresa is a very unique case. Theresa Ann Campo Pearson was an infant born in Florida 1992, with Anencephaly, which is where the two most important parts of the brain are missing, the cerebrum and cerebellum, as well as the top of the skull. Without these parts of the brain she would never have had higher brain functions or consciousness. However, there is still a brain stem connected so all the autonomic functions are still working, such as having a heart beat and breathing. Anencephaly is known as one of the worst congenital disorders, thus these cases are usually detected during pregnancy and aborted. If not aborted, half are stillborn or if born alive, they usually die within a few days. In