Derencephalocele

/ˌdɛrɛnˈsɛfələsil/ noun

Definition

A medical condition where part of the brain tissue protrudes through an opening in the skull and skin, a type of birth defect.

Etymology

From Greek dere (neck) + encephalo- (brain) + -cele (hernia or protrusion). This medical term combines anatomical terms to describe a specific hernia of brain tissue, particularly in the neck/cervical region.

Kelly Says

Doctors use these compound words to be incredibly precise: 'derencephalocele' tells them exactly where the brain bulge is (neck region) and what kind of defect it is—one word replaces a whole paragraph!

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