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Glite Dictionary
myelomeningocele

myelomeningocele

9.9
A birth defect where part of the spinal cord and its covering comes out through an opening in the back
  • noun
  • /ˌmaɪəloʊˌmɛnɪŋɡoʊˈsiːl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : mielomeningocele
  • Many patients with myelomeningocele experience challenges with mobility and require assistive devices to help them walk.
  • children with myelomeningocele

Examples

  • The factor structure was derived with a sample of 322 families with a chronically ill child (myelomeningocele or cerebral palsy).

    Academic text (1993)

  • Children born with myelomeningocele often need surgery shortly after birth to protect the exposed spinal cord.

  • A frequent consequence of myelomeningocele is hydrocephalus, a buildup of CSF in the brain.

Synonyms

spina bifida
vsmyelomeningocele
  • Specialized
7 7.2

A birth problem where the spine does not close and the spinal cord may stick out

is a specific form where a sac contains spinal cord and membranes

Surface Forms

myelomeningocele singular
myelomeningocele plural

Morphology

myelomeningocele = meningocele (opaque) = myelo + meningo + cele

Although formed by medical combining forms, the structure and meaning are technical and not guessable by an average B1 learner.

Etymology

Myelomeningocele breaks into Greek parts: myelo- meaning 'spinal cord' or 'marrow', meningo- meaning 'covering', the membranes around the brain and spine, and -cele meaning 'sac' or 'hernia'. So a myelomeningocele is literally a 'sac' where the spinal cord and its coverings push out through the spine, which is why the word names this condition.