Definition

Noun: A congenital medical condition where brain tissue protrudes through an opening in the skull. This opening is a defect present from birth, and the protruding tissue is often covered by skin or a thin membrane.

Usage

The term is used in medical contexts to describe a specific type of neural tube defect. It is a technical term for healthcare professionals, researchers, and in patient diagnoses. * The ultrasound revealed a fetal encephalocele. * Surgery is often required to correct an encephalocele.

Advanced Usage

• The condition is often classified by the location of the skull defect, such as occipital encephalocele (at the back of the skull) or frontal encephalocele (at the front of the skull).

Variants and Related Words

• Encephaloceles (plural form).
• Cephalocele: A broader term for any protrusion of intracranial contents through a skull defect, which can include brain tissue and membranes (meninges). An encephalocele is a specific type of cephalocele.
• Meningoencephalocele: A type of encephalocele where both the meninges (the protective membranes) and brain tissue protrude.

Synonyms

• Cranium bifidum (a related term describing the skull defect itself).
• Cerebral hernia (a descriptive, non-technical synonym).

Related Medical Terms (Not Phrasal Verbs or Idioms)

• Neural tube defect: The category of birth defects that includes encephalocele, as well as spina bifida and anencephaly.
• Herniation: The general process of an organ or tissue protruding through an opening. Encephalocele is a herniation of brain tissue.

Noun

1. protrusion of brain tissue through a congenital fissure in the skull