There exist more than 250 mouse models with neural tube defects, of which 74 are of spina bifida (Table 2) , yet there does not exist a single mouse gene which can be used to screen the orthologous human gene of neural tube defect nor spina bifida to date . That said, it does not mean that the studies on the structural changes afforded by the mouse model cannot be used as a tool to understand human spina bifida. We discuss the various studies on mouse neurulation below and why it is still an invaluable tool for understanding human neurulation.