What is classified as bifid is something that is split into two portions or sectors.
Bifid is an adjective that is used to describe what has a bifurcation or, in the field of biology, what is divided into two sectors or portions . The etymological root of the term is found in the Latin word bifĭdus .
A malformation of the spine , also called the vertebral column , is known as spina bifida . This malformation is congenital: it is already present at birth.
It should be remembered that the spine is the axis of the skeleton of vertebrate beings. It is made up of various short bones called vertebrae , which articulate with each other. In the case of spina bifida, the spine has a protrusion (a fragment that extends beyond its normal limits) at its end.
Origin of spina bifida
Spina bifida occurs when, at the end of the first month of embryonic life, the neural tube does not close completely. With the passage of time , the last vertebrae of the spine do not close completely either, which generates the aforementioned protrusion.
Although its cause often cannot be determined, it is common for spina bifida to occur when the mother had a low level of folic acid in the months before pregnancy. Another fact to keep in mind is that it is not a hereditary disorder.
Classification according to type
Spina bifida can be open (also called cystic) or hidden. In the case of open spina bifida it appears as a lump on the back.
Spina bifida occulta , on the other hand, usually looks like a spot or dimple and the person may not notice this condition.
Consequences of spina bifida
Some of the possible consequences of spina bifida, which can be partially reversed through surgery, are the following:
- Excess accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain , a phenomenon known as hydrocephalus and which, in turn, causes a high degree of pressure in the brain tissues that can harm it. This fluid is also called cerebrospinal and bathes the spinal cord and brain. One of its main characteristics is that it does not have color.
- Various neurological disorders that are often related to hydrocephalus.
- A disease called Arnold Chiari malformation , which is characterized by the downward movement of a part of the cerebellum , although sometimes almost all of its mass, through the greater foramen occipital. This compresses the brain stem and may be accompanied by an increase in the amount of cerebrospinal fluid in the skull.
- A disorder called syringomyelia , which consists of the formation of a cyst inside the spinal cord, known as the syrinx , which extends and expands over time, potentially destroying the central part of the cord. Given the connection that exists between it and the nerves in our extremities, it is common for stiffness, weakness and pain to appear in the shoulders, legs, arms or back.
- Difficulty concentrating, vision problems and memory disorders.
- Anomalies in the musculoskeletal system .
- Paralysis or muscle weakness.
- Decreased sensitivity in the area below the injury (in some cases, it may be total).
- Alterations in the control of the intestine and the genito-urinary system, which can manifest in the form of incontinence, both bladder and fecal, or in the opposite situation, that is, retention. Since poor bladder emptying often leads to urinary infections , it is normal that the patient will need to undergo catheterization.
Snakes have a forked tongue.
The tongue of snakes
The forked tongue , on the other hand, consists of a bifurcation of the organ .
Snakes have a naturally forked tongue, while there are humans who undergo an operation to achieve this characteristic.