Cyclocephaly

/ˌsaɪ.kloʊ.ˈsef.ə.li/ noun

Definition

A rare birth defect where the skull and brain develop abnormally with circular or fused structures.

Etymology

From cyclo- (Greek kyklos, 'circle') + -cephaly (Greek kephale, 'head'). A medical term combining roots to describe abnormal head/brain development with circular characteristics.

Kelly Says

Cyclocephaly is an extremely rare condition that would have been universally fatal in ancient times, but it's given modern embryologists crucial insights into how the brain and skull normally develop and separate from each other.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.