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Definition of Hydrocephalus

1. Noun. An abnormal condition in which cerebrospinal fluid collects in the ventricles of the brain; in infants it can cause abnormally rapid growth of the head and bulging fontanelles and a small face; in adults the symptoms are primarily neurological.

Definition of Hydrocephalus

1. n. An accumulation of liquid within the cavity of the cranium, especially within the ventricles of the brain; dropsy of the brain. It is due usually to tubercular meningitis. When it occurs in infancy, it often enlarges the head enormously.

Definition of Hydrocephalus

1. Noun. (medicine) A usually congenital condition in which an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the cerebral ventricles causes enlargement of the skull and compression of the brain, destroying much of the neural tissue ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Hydrocephalus

1. [n -LUSES]

Medical Definition of Hydrocephalus

1. A condition marked by dilatation of the cerebral ventricles, most often occurring secondarily to obstruction of the cerebrospinal fluid pathways and accompanied by an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid within the skull, the fluid is usually under increased pressure, but occasionally may be normal or nearly so. It is typically characterised by enlargement of the head, prominence of the forehead, brain atrophy, mental deterioration and convulsions, may be congenital or acquired and may be of sudden onset (acute h.) or be slowly progressive (chronic or primary b.). Origin: Gr. Kephal = head This entry appears with permission from the Dictionary of Cell and Molecular Biology (11 Mar 2008)

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Lexicographical Neighbors of Hydrocephalus

Literary usage of Hydrocephalus

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The American Journal of the Medical Sciences by Southern Society for Clinical Investigation (U.S.) (1907)
"hydrocephalus complicating or occurring with acute cerebro- spinal fever is of the greatest practical and clinical importance. It has been observed since ..."

2. The Principles and Practice of Medicine: Designed for the Use of by William Osler (1909)
"The term hydrocephalus has also been applied to the collection of fluid between the cortex of the brain and the skull, known in this situation as ..."

3. Monographic Medicine by William Robie Patten Emerson, Guido Guerrini, William Brown, Wendell Christopher Phillips, John Whitridge Williams, John Appleton Swett, Hans Günther, Mario Mariotti, Hugh Grant Rowell (1916)
"Der angeborene hydrocephalus. In: Handb. d. Neurol. (Lewandowsky). ... Internal hydrocephalus; with report of two cases, one resulting from occlusion of the ..."

4. Nervous and Mental Diseases by Archibald Church, Frederick Peterson (1914)
"hydrocephalus. hydrocephalus is a term loosely used to designate any undue amount ... Tubercular meningitis, frequently called acute hydrocephalus by older ..."

5. The Diseases of Children: A Work for the Practising Physician by Meinhard von Pfaundler, Arthur Schlossmann, Henry Larned Keith Shaw, Linnæus Edford La Fétra, Luther Emmett Holt (1912)
"External hydrocephalus also occurs after intra-uterine shrinking processes and ... Congenital internal hydrocephalus also suggests the previous existence of ..."

6. Pediatrics: The Hygienic and Medical Treatment of Children by Thomas Morgan Rotch (1896)
"(-) The internal and common variety of hydrocephalus consists in a ... Acquired internal hydrocephalus may be acute or chronic. • acute form of the disease ..."

7. A Treatise on the practice of medicine: For the Use of Students and by Roberts Bartholow (1883)
"The term hydrocephalus signifies water in the brain, but is restricted to a ... hydrocephalus may be congenital or acquired. The latter variety is the form ..."

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