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hydrocephalus

(hī′drə sef′ə ləs)

noun

a condition characterized by an abnormal increase in the amount of fluid in the cranium, esp. in young children, causing enlargement of the head and deterioration of the brain

also hydrocephaly

Origin: ModL < Gr hydrokephalon < hydōr, water + kephalē, head: see cephalic

Related Forms:

hydrocephalic adjective, noun
hydrocephalous adjective

See hydrocephalus in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

A usually congenital condition in which an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the cerebral ventricles causes enlargement of the skull and compression of the brain, destroying much of the neural tissue.

Origin:

Origin: New Latin

Origin: , from Greek hudrokephalon

Origin: : hudro-, hydro-

Origin: + kephalē, head; see ghebh-el- in Indo-European roots

Related Forms: