anencephalia

Thân thiện

A doctor explains the condition of anencephalia using a medical diagram.

Definition

Noun: A severe congenital defect in brain development characterized by the absence of a major portion of the brain, skull, and scalp. The condition results in the cerebral hemispheres being either extremely small or completely missing.

Usage

The term is a medical noun used specifically in clinical and pathological contexts to describe a fatal neural tube defect present at birth. It is typically used in formal writing, diagnoses, and scientific discussions.

Examples

• The prenatal ultrasound revealed signs of anencephalia in the fetus.
• Anencephalia is a condition incompatible with prolonged life outside the womb.
• The study focused on the genetic factors associated with anencephalia.

Advanced Usage

• Etiological Context: Often discussed in relation to folic acid deficiency during pregnancy, as this is a known preventable risk factor for neural tube defects like anencephalia.
• Pathological Description: Used in medical reports to describe the physical findings, e.g., "The postmortem examination confirmed the diagnosis of anencephalia."

Variants and Related Words

• Anencephaly (n.): This is the more commonly used variant term, identical in meaning to "anencephalia."
• Anencephalic (adj.): The adjective form, used to describe an affected individual or the condition itself (e.g., an anencephalic infant).

Synonyms

• Merencephaly (n.): A less common technical synonym.

Notes on Meaning

This term refers exclusively to the specific, severe congenital malformation described. It is not used metaphorically or in non-medical contexts. The primary consequence of anencephalia is the lack of consciousness and the inability to survive.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a defect in brain development resulting in small or missing brain hemispheres

Từ đồng nghĩa

• anencephaly