cephalohematoma

9.9

A collection of blood under the skin on a newborn's head caused by pressure during birth

noun
/ˌsɛfəloʊhɪˈmɑːtəʊmə/

Specialized

: cefalohematoma

Parents were reassured that the cephalohematoma was a common birth-related injury and would heal on its own.

Examples

The doctors monitored the baby's cephalohematoma to ensure it did not increase in size.
The doctor diagnosed the newborn with a cephalohematoma.
A cephalohematoma may take several weeks to resolve without intervention.
Many infants experience a cephalohematoma after delivery.
The doctor reassured the parents that their newborn's cephalohematoma would gradually heal without any treatment.
After the delivery, the nurse noted that the baby had developed a small cephalohematoma near the top of the head.
Monitoring the size of the cephalohematoma is important to ensure the baby's recovery goes smoothly.

Synonyms

hematoma

vscephalohematoma

Specialized

31 7.5

A swelling of blood under the skin after an injury that feels like a lump

is specific to newborn scalp bleeding caused by birth pressure not general tissue bleeding

cephalhematoma

vscephalohematoma

Specialized

9.9

A soft swelling on a newborn's head caused by blood under the scalp after birth

is focused on blood under the scalp caused by pressure during birth

How Large

cerebral hemorrhage

Specialized

6 7.3

cephalohematoma

Specialized

9.9

bruise

266 1.6

Surface Forms

cephalohematoma singular

cephalohematomas plural

Morphology

cephalohematoma = hematoma (semi-transparent) = cephalo + hematoma

The structure is clearly cephalo- (head) + hematoma (blood collection), but both elements are technical combining forms unfamiliar to most general learners.

Etymology

Cephalohematoma breaks into parts: cephalo- ('head'), hemato- ('blood') and -oma ('a swelling' or 'lump'), so it literally means a 'blood swelling on the head' and explains the common bruise or collection of blood some newborn babies get during birth.