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macrocephaly

macrocephaly

9.9
A condition in which a person has an unusually large head
  • noun
  • /ˌmækroʊˈsɛfəli/
  • Specialized
translation icon : macrocefalia
  • Parents were relieved to find out that their son's macrocephaly was a benign condition that did not affect his cognitive abilities.

Examples

  • After consulting the pediatrician, they learned that their child's macrocephaly was not associated with any other health issues.

  • Further, achondroplastic infants can have hydrocephalus, which could account for Charles Waring's macrocephaly and delayed speech.

    Academic text (2010)
  • There appears to be macrocephaly with frontal bossing; the eyes are wide-set.

    Academic text (2010)
  • Infections during pregnancy can result in spontaneous abortion or characteristic congenital defects, such as chorioretinitis, microcephaly or macrocephaly, and hydrocephalus (18).

    Academic text (2014)
  • The doctor diagnosed him with macrocephaly, noting that his head size was larger than average without any pressure on the brain.

Synonyms

megalocephaly
vsmacrocephaly
  • Specialized
9.9

A very large head with even growth on both sides that is not caused by fluid in the brain

is the same medical definition expressed by the key term
megacephaly
vsmacrocephaly
  • Specialized
9.9

A person whose whole head is much larger than normal and not from fluid build-up in the brain

is the same medical definition expressed by the key term
macrencephaly
vsmacrocephaly
  • Specialized
9.9

An unusually large skull that holds the brain

focuses on the whole head rather than only the braincase

How Big

macrocephaly
  • Specialized
9.9
microcephaly
  • Specialized
1 9.8

Surface Forms

macrocephaly singular

Morphology

macrocephaly = macrocephalic (semi-transparent) = macro + cephal + y

The noun is formed from the adjective 'macrocephalic' with the abstract noun suffix '-y', but the medical terminology is only partly transparent to many learners.

Etymology

The word macrocephaly comes from Greek parts macro- meaning 'large' and -cephaly meaning 'head'. So macrocephaly literally means 'large head', which is why doctors use it for the medical condition of an unusually large head.