American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI) Practice Exam

What is anencephaly?

1. An infant born without a brain

2. A type of congenital heart defect

3. An abnormal growth of brain tissue

4. A condition characterized by excessive brain fluid

The correct answer is: An infant born without a brain

Anencephaly is a severe congenital condition where an infant is born without a significant portion of the brain, skull, and scalp. The correct choice highlights that the infant is essentially missing major brain structures, which can include the cerebral hemispheres, the cerebellum, and parts of the brainstem. This condition arises during fetal development when the neural tube, which eventually forms the brain and spinal cord, fails to completely close. As a result, the affected newborn typically presents with a very limited chance of survival, often living only a few hours or days post-birth. Understanding the implications of anencephaly is crucial for health professionals and particularly for those in the field of medicolegal death investigation, as it may influence decisions related to care options and ethical considerations surrounding end-of-life issues. The other options refer to different medical conditions unrelated to the absence of brain development, which clarifies the distinctive nature of anencephaly compared to those scenarios.