ENCEPHALOCELE Meaning and
Definition
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Encephalocele is a medical condition characterized by the abnormal protrusion of brain tissue through a gap or defect in the skull. Specifically, it refers to a fetal or congenital malformation in which a sac-like structure containing a portion of the brain or its coverings (meninges) protrudes through a hole in the cranium. This condition occurs during the early stages of fetal development when the neural tube, which eventually becomes the brain and spinal cord, fails to close properly.
Encephaloceles can manifest in various locations along the midline of the skull, including the front (frontal encephalocele), top (vertex encephalocele), back (occipital encephalocele), or sides (temporal encephalocele). The severity of symptoms and associated complications largely depends on the size, location, and extent of the encephalocele. Smaller encephaloceles may cause minor cosmetic abnormalities, while larger ones can lead to significant neurological deficits.
Common symptoms of encephalocele include a visible sac-like protrusion at the site of the defect, developmental delays, facial deformities, intellectual disabilities, seizures, hydrocephalus (excessive accumulation of fluid in the brain), and motor impairment. Surgical intervention is typically necessary to correct encephaloceles. The surgical procedure involves carefully repositioning the displaced neural tissue inside the skull and closing the opening in the bone. Following surgery, patients may require additional medical care and long-term monitoring to manage any associated complications and ensure their optimal development and functioning.
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Protrusion of brain substance through a cleft in the skull.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for ENCEPHALOCELE
- wncephalocele
- sncephalocele
- dncephalocele
- rncephalocele
- 4ncephalocele
- 3ncephalocele
- ebcephalocele
- emcephalocele
- ejcephalocele
- ehcephalocele
- enxephalocele
- envephalocele
- enfephalocele
- endephalocele
- encwphalocele
- encsphalocele
- encdphalocele
- encrphalocele
- enc4phalocele
Etymology of ENCEPHALOCELE
The word "encephalocele" originates from Greek. It is a combination of the Greek words "encephalon", meaning "brain", and "kele", meaning "hernia" or "protrusion". Therefore, "encephalocele" literally means a herniation or protrusion of the brain.
Similar spelling words for ENCEPHALOCELE
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