A malformation of the nervous system caused by failure of the anterior neuropore to close. Infants are born with intact spinal cords, cerebellums, and brainstems, but lack formation of neural structures above this level. The skull is only partially formed but the eyes are usually normal. This condition may be associated with folate deficiency. Affected infants are only capable of primitive (brain stem) reflexes and usually do not survive for more than two weeks. (From Menkes, Textbook of Child Neurology, 5th ed, p247)

Descriptor ID	D000757
MeSH Number(s)	C10.500.680.196 C16.131.085.197 C16.131.666.680.196
Concept/Terms	Anencephaly Anencephaly Congenital Absence of Brain Brain Congenital Absence Anencephalus Absence of Brain, Congenital Anencephalia Anencephalias Incomplete Anencephaly Incomplete Anencephaly Anencephaly, Incomplete Partial Anencephaly Anencephalies, Partial Anencephaly, Partial Partial Anencephalies Hemicranial Anencephaly Anencephaly, Hemicranial Aprosencephaly Aprosencephaly Aprosencephalies

Below are MeSH descriptors whose meaning is more general than "Anencephaly".

Below are MeSH descriptors whose meaning is related to "Anencephaly".

Below are MeSH descriptors whose meaning is more specific than "Anencephaly".