hydrocephalus

noun hy·dro·ceph·a·lus \-ˈse-fə-ləs\

Definition of HYDROCEPHALUS

: an abnormal increase in the amount of cerebrospinal fluid within the cranial cavity that is accompanied by expansion of the cerebral ventricles and often increased intracranial pressure, skull enlargement, and cognitive decline

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Variants of HYDROCEPHALUS

hy·dro·ceph·a·lus also hy·dro·ceph·a·ly \-lē\

Origin of HYDROCEPHALUS

New Latin hydrocephalus, from Late Latin, hydrocephalic, adjective, from Greek hydrokephalos, from hydr- + kephalē head — more at cephalic

First Known Use: 1670

Medical Dictionary

hydrocephalus

noun hy·dro·ceph·a·lus \-ˈsef-ə-ləs, British also -ˈkef-\

plural hy·dro·ceph·a·li \-ˌlī\

Medical Definition of HYDROCEPHALUS

: an abnormal increase in the amount of cerebrospinal fluid within the cranial cavity that is accompanied by expansion of the cerebral ventricles, enlargement of the skull and especially the forehead, and atrophy of the brain