Encephalocele

/ˌɛnsɛfəloʊˈsil/ noun

Definition

A birth defect where brain tissue protrudes through an opening in the skull, forming a bulge or sac.

Etymology

From Greek enkephalos (brain) + kele (hernia, rupture), medical term for a herniation of brain tissue through the skull.

Kelly Says

This congenital condition happens when the skull doesn't fully close during fetal development—modern ultrasound can now detect it before birth, allowing doctors to prepare for surgery.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

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