omphalocele

1 9.9

A birth defect where a baby's intestines stick out near the belly button

noun
/ˌɑmfəˈloʊsiːl/

Specialized

: omfalocela

An omphalocele occurs when abdominal organs protrude.

Examples

Treatment for an omphalocele depends on the size and the involvement of other organs.
The newborn was diagnosed with an omphalocele requiring surgical intervention.
Doctors explained that an omphalocele is a rare abdominal wall defect.
The newborn was diagnosed with an omphalocele.
The doctor explained that an omphalocele is a serious congenital defect that can affect a newborn's health.
During the ultrasound, they discovered that the baby had an omphalocele, requiring special care after birth.
Parents are often informed about the risk of an omphalocele during prenatal check-ups and genetic counseling.

Synonyms

umbilical hernia

vsomphalocele

Specialized

1 6.5

A bulge near the belly button where part of the gut pushes through the stomach wall

is a specific congenital defect where intestine and omentum protrude at birth

Surface Forms

omphalocele singular

omphalocele plural

Morphology

omphalocele = omphalo + cele

Formed from specialist Greek combining forms ('omphalo-' = navel, '-cele' = hernia) that are not recognizable as ordinary English words to an average B1 learner, so the meaning cannot be reliably derived from visible parts.

Etymology

Omphalocele comes from Greek parts omphalo- meaning 'navel' or 'belly button' and -cele meaning 'hernia' or 'bulge'. So omphalocele literally means a 'navel hernia', which explains why it names the birth defect where a baby's organs bulge through near the belly button.