Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 26, 2026

Murine Fetal Echocardiography
08:04

Murine Fetal Echocardiography

Published on: February 15, 2013

Cerebral ventricular system in fetuses with open spina bifida at 11-13 weeks' gestation

T Loureiro1, F Ushakov, N Montenegro

  • 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, S. João Hospital, Medical School, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal. tereloureiro@yahoo.com.br

Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology : the Official Journal of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology
|December 23, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Early detection of open spina bifida in fetuses shows reduced cerebrospinal fluid. This finding at 11-13 weeks gestation impacts understanding of fetal brain development.

Area of Science:

  • Fetal Medicine
  • Neurodevelopmental Pediatrics
  • Prenatal Imaging

Background:

  • Open spina bifida is a severe congenital neural tube defect.
  • Early detection of fetal anomalies is crucial for management.
  • The cerebral ventricular system's development in early gestation is not fully understood in spina bifida.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate alterations in the fetal cerebral ventricular system.
  • To assess these changes in fetuses with open spina bifida at 11-13 weeks' gestation.

Main Methods:

  • Transvaginal sonography and 3D brain volume acquisition were used.
  • Measurements of lateral ventricles, third ventricle roof, aqueduct of Sylvius, and fourth ventricle were obtained.
  • Comparison of measurements between 10 fetuses with open spina bifida and 410 normal fetuses.

Main Results:

  • In normal fetuses, ventricular dimensions changed with gestational age.
  • Fetuses with open spina bifida showed significantly decreased measurements in all assessed ventricular areas.
  • These differences were statistically significant (P < 0.01).

Conclusions:

  • Fetuses with open spina bifida exhibit a substantial reduction in intracranial cerebrospinal fluid.
  • This reduction is detectable as early as 11-13 weeks' gestation.
  • Findings suggest early disruption of cerebrospinal fluid dynamics in fetal spina bifida.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Zebrafish Brain Ventricle Injection08:28

Zebrafish Brain Ventricle Injection

Published on: April 6, 2009

Manual Drainage of the Zebrafish Embryonic Brain Ventricles06:17

Manual Drainage of the Zebrafish Embryonic Brain Ventricles

Published on: December 16, 2012

Related Concept Videos

Fetal Circulation01:14

Fetal Circulation

Fetal circulation is a unique system that facilitates the exchange of gases, nutrients, and waste products between the developing fetus and the mother. This intricate process takes place through a special organ called the placenta.
Two umbilical arteries transport blood from the fetus to the placenta. At the placenta, the blood absorbs oxygen and nutrients while simultaneously eliminating waste products. This oxygen-enriched and nutrient-rich blood then returns to the fetus through one...
Anatomy of the Brain: Ventricles01:18

Anatomy of the Brain: Ventricles

There are hollow fluid-filled cavities known as ventricles deep inside the human brain. There are two lateral ventricles, one in each cerebral hemisphere, and each has three different projections — the anterior, inferior, and posterior horns visible from the lateral side. A thin membrane called the septum pellucidum separates the two lateral ventricles. The slender third ventricle in the diencephalon is connected to each lateral ventricle via a channel called the interventricular foramen. The...
Development of Blood Vessels01:07

Development of Blood Vessels

The development of the vascular system in a fetus is a complex and intricate process that begins as early as 15 to 16 days post-conception. This process starts outside the embryo, specifically in the mesoderm of the yolk sac, chorion, and connecting stalk. Approximately two days later, the formation of blood vessels occurs within the embryo itself.
The initial formation of this system is facilitated by the small amount of yolk present in the ovum and yolk sac. Blood vessels originate from...
Neurulation01:30

Neurulation

Neurulation is the embryological process which forms the precursors of the central nervous system and occurs after gastrulation has established the three primary cell layers of the embryo: ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. In humans, the majority of this system is formed via primary neurulation, in which the central portion of the ectoderm—originally appearing as a flat sheet of cells—folds upwards and inwards, sealing off to form a hollow neural tube. As development proceeds, the anterior...
Development of the Heart01:27

Development of the Heart

The development of the human heart, a crucial organ, commences from the mesoderm on the 18th or 19th day after fertilization. This process initiates in the cardiogenic area, a group of mesodermal cells at the embryo's head end, which evolves into elongated strands known as cardiogenic cords. These cords undergo a transformation to form hollow-centered endocardial tubes.
As the embryo undergoes lateral folding, these paired tubes approach each other, merging into a single primitive heart tube by...
Cerebral Edema ll: Pathophysiology01:22

Cerebral Edema ll: Pathophysiology

Vasogenic edema is a major form of cerebral edema characterized by abnormal accumulation of fluid in the brain’s extracellular space due to disruption of the blood–brain barrier (BBB). The BBB is a specialized structure composed of endothelial cells connected by tight junctions, supported by astrocytic endfeet and a basement membrane. Under normal conditions, it tightly regulates the movement of ions, proteins, and solutes between the bloodstream and brain parenchyma. When this barrier loses...