Which statement best describes meningocele?

• A. A protruding sac containing meninges and CSF with the spinal cord and nerve roots in their normal positions
• B. Nerve tissue is exposed in the sac
• C. The sac contains only CSF
• D. The spinal cord is absent from the sac

Answer: (A)

Meningocele is a form of spina bifida where only the meninges (the membranes covering the spinal cord) herniate through a spinal defect, forming a sac filled with cerebrospinal fluid. The spinal cord and nerve roots stay in their normal position inside the spinal canal, not in the sac. This combination—sac containing meninges and CSF while the spinal cord remains in place—best fits the description.

If the sac contained exposed nerve tissue, that would describe myelomeningocele, not meningocele. If the sac were described as containing only CSF, that misses the presence of the meninges in the sac. If the spinal cord were absent from the sac, that would describe a different, more severe anomaly and does not match meningocele.