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hydrocephalus
noun
hy·dro·ceph·a·lus
ˌhī-drō-ˈse-fə-ləs
variants
or less commonly hydrocephaly
: an abnormal increase in the amount of cerebrospinal fluid within the cranial cavity (as from obstructed flow, excess production, or defective absorption) that is accompanied by expansion of the cerebral ventricles and often increased intracranial pressure, skull enlargement, and cognitive decline
Examples of hydrocephalus in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The fluid accumulates due to a medical condition of infancy called benign external hydrocephalus.
—Dhanika Pineda, ABC News, 25 June 2024
Derrick had experienced multiple seizures as an infant, and had subsequently been diagnosed with cerebral palsy and hydrocephalus.
—Lindsay Lee Wallace, TIME, 17 June 2024
From a 6 year lifespan to a thriving teenager
Luis Heberto lives with spinal bifida, which paralyzes him from the waist down; cerebral palsy, which limits him from the waist up; and hydrocephalus, a neurological disorder that causes the accumulation of fluid within deep cavities of the brain.
—Nadia Cantú, The Arizona Republic, 12 May 2024
In situations where the tumor is interfering with the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF), people may have more pressure in their heads, known as hydrocephalus.
—Julia Landwehr, Health, 12 Jan. 2024
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Word History
Dictionary Entries Near hydrocephalus
Cite this Entry
“Hydrocephalus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hydrocephalus. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
Kids Definition
hydrocephalus
noun
hy·dro·ceph·a·lus
ˌhī-drō-ˈsef-ə-ləs
variants
also hydrocephaly
: an abnormal condition in which an increased amount of cerebrospinal fluid causes an increase in the size of the ventricles of the brain and the size of the skull and the wasting away of the brain
Medical Definition
hydrocephalus
noun
hy·dro·ceph·a·lus
-ˈsef-ə-ləs, British also -ˈkef-
plural hydrocephali
-ˌlī
: an abnormal increase in the amount of cerebrospinal fluid within the cranial cavity (as from obstructed flow, excess production, or defective absorption) that is accompanied by expansion of the cerebral ventricles and often increased intracranial pressure, skull enlargement, and cognitive decline
More from Merriam-Webster on hydrocephalus
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hydrocephalus
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