Definition

A medical condition where there is an abnormal buildup of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain, leading to increased pressure inside the skull.

Example

The doctor diagnosed the baby with hydrocephaly after noticing the swelling of the head.

Conversation

I was reading about health conditions and came across hydrocephaly.

Oh really? What is it about?

It seems like it's related to fluid buildup in the brain.

That sounds serious; I hope they have good treatments for it.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Hydrocephaly → It is formed from "hydro-" (from Greek "hydor", meaning water) and "cephalus" (from Greek "kephalē", meaning head). The word describes a condition characterized by an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid within the cavities of the brain, leading to an enlarged head due to the excess fluid.

Memory Tip

Think of 'water' ('hydro-') accumulating in the 'head' ('cephalus') — that's why hydrocephaly refers to a condition where there is too much fluid in the head.

Visually Confused Words