Which form has the spinal cord and nerve roots remaining intact and in their normal positions?

• A. Meningocele
• B. Myelomeningocele
• C. Myeloschisis
• D. Occulta

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that this form involves only the meninges pushing through a vertebral defect while the spinal cord and nerve roots stay intact and in their normal position. In meningocele, a sac formed by the meninges protrudes through the defect, but the spinal cord itself and the nerve roots remain in place, so neurological function is typically preserved. In contrast, myelomeningocele includes neural tissue in the protruding sac with the cord displaced or malformed, leading to neurologic deficits. Myeloschisis represents an open neural tube defect where neural tissue is exposed on the surface, with lack of an intact cord in normal position. Occulta is a hidden vertebral arch defect with no protrusion of meninges or spinal cord, so it doesn’t involve a sac containing meninges and neural tissue.