Which condition is defined by incomplete closure of one or more vertebra without protrusion of the spinal cord or meninges?

• A. Spina bifida
• B. Spinal cord defects
• C. Subarachnoid hemorrhage
• D. Transient ischemic attack

Answer: (A)

Incomplete closure of a vertebral arch without any protrusion of the spinal cord or meninges points to spina bifida occulta, a mild form of spina bifida. Because there’s no herniation of neural tissue, signs can be absent or subtle, and the condition is often discovered incidentally. Among the options, this description best matches spina bifida since the other choices refer to different conditions entirely—subarachnoid hemorrhage is bleeding around the brain/spinal cord, a transient ischemic attack is a brief vascular event, and a vague “spinal cord defects” label doesn’t specify the vertebral arch closure issue.