Reza, a 2-day-old baby, has muscle weakness and is unable to move his limbs. His doctors perform a surgery to close his spinal canal and to place a shunt inside his brain to drain excess fluid. In the context of birth defects, Reza is likely to have
A) spina bifida.
B) anencephaly.
C) Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
D) Tay-Sachs disease.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Reza's symptoms and the description of his surgery suggest he has spina bifida, a birth defect where the spinal canal does not close completely. The placement of a shunt to drain excess fluid indicates the presence of hydrocephalus, which can accompany spina bifida.

Reza, a 2-Day-Old Baby, Has Muscle Weakness and Is Unable