Anencephalia May 2026

Anencephaly is a fatal birth defect where a baby is born without parts of the brain and skull. It occurs during early pregnancy when the upper part of the neural tube—a tissue that normally forms the brain and spine—fails to close completely. Key Characteristics

: While higher brain functions are missing, many babies have a functioning brain stem, which controls essential actions like breathing and heartbeat. anencephalia

: The top part of the skull is usually absent, and remaining brain tissue may be exposed. Anencephaly is a fatal birth defect where a