1. There are many Spinal Dysraphisms which are malformations of the cord and spine. It gets fairly confusing so start by dividing them into eithr
   1. Open ( neural tissue exposed to view through skin defect)  and
   2. Closed ( malformation covered by skin and not open to view) dysraphisms.
2. If its Open, the most most common type of Open Spinal Dysraphism is a Myelomeningocele
3. If its a Closed Dysraphism, these can be  divided into those with a subcutaneous mass and without.
   1. With Subcutaneous Mass ( Lipoma): Most common are Lipomyelocele and Lipomyelomeningocele. Less common are meningoceles and myelocystoceles.
   2. Without Subcutaneous Mass:
      1. Simple: Filum fat/ lipoma, Intradural lipomas, Persistent ventriculus terminalis Dermal sinuses
      2. Complex: Diastematomyelia, Sacral agenesis

Image Above: Diagram demonstrates a Myelomeningocele. Neural placode ( * and red) protruding through skin ( brown) together with CSF and arachnoid ( blue).

Image Above: Diagram demonstrates a Lipomyelocele. Skin ( brown) is closed . Subcutaneous lipomatous mass ( yellow) is attached to the neural placode ( red) within the canal.

Image Above: Diagram demonstrates a Lipomeningomyelocele. Skin ( brown) is closed . Subcutaneous lipomatous mass ( yellow) is attached to the neural placode ( red) outside the canal.