Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
cephalhematoma

cephalhematoma

9.9
A soft swelling on a newborn's head caused by blood under the scalp after birth
  • noun
  • /ˌsɛfəlhɪˈmoʊtə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : cefalhematoma
  • A cephalhematoma can develop as a result of birth trauma during delivery, leading to a noticeable bump on the infant's scalp.

Examples

  • Most cephalhematomas resolve on their own within a few weeks after birth.

  • The doctor diagnosed the swelling as a cephalhematoma after examining the newborn's head.

  • A large cephalhematoma may be concerning, but it typically does not require surgical intervention.

  • The newborn was diagnosed with a cephalhematoma after delivery.

  • A cephalhematoma can occur due to difficult labor.

  • The doctor diagnosed the swelling on the newborn's head as a cephalhematoma, indicating a blood collection between the scalp and skull.

  • Most cephalhematomas are harmless and resolve naturally within the first few weeks of a baby's life.

Synonyms

hematoma
vscephalhematoma
  • Specialized
31 7.5

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

is specific to newborn scalp blood after birth rather than general tissue bleeding
cephalohematoma
vscephalhematoma
  • Specialized
9.9

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

has identical meaning but uses an alternate spelling

Surface Forms

cephalhematoma singular
cephalhematomas plural

Morphology

cephalhematoma = hematoma (opaque) = cephal + hematoma

The term is medical and built from a Greek combining form 'cephal-' (head) plus the medical noun 'hematoma'; the combining form is not a standalone English word and is unlikely to be recognized by B1 learners.

Etymology

The word Cephalhematoma breaks into three parts: cephal- 'head', hemat- 'blood', and -oma 'swelling'. So it literally means 'head-blood-swelling', which is why it describes a collection of blood between a newborn's scalp and the skull bone.