oxycephaly

9.9

A condition present at birth where the top of the skull is pointed

noun
/ˌɑksɪˈsɛfəli/

Specialized

: oxicefalia

Oxycephaly often results in increased pressure within the skull and requires medical attention.

Examples

The surgeon discussed treatment options for the infant diagnosed with oxycephaly.
Early detection of oxycephaly can improve outcomes for affected children.
The child was diagnosed with oxycephaly shortly after birth.
Many cases of oxycephaly can be treated effectively.
Oxycephaly is a condition where a baby's skull is shaped abnormally, resembling a cone.
Medical professionals closely monitor infants for signs of oxycephaly due to its potential complications.
A child diagnosed with oxycephaly may require surgery to relieve pressure on the brain.

Synonyms

acrocephaly

vsoxycephaly

Specialized

1 9.9

A condition present at birth where the top of the skull is cone-shaped

is the same medical condition but is an alternative specialist term

Surface Forms

oxycephaly singular

oxycephalies plural

Morphology

oxycephaly = oxy + cephal + y

Formed from Greek combining elements (oxy- 'sharp' + cephal- 'head' + -y 'condition'); these medical combining forms are not productive or familiar to an average B1 learner, so the meaning cannot be reliably derived from recognizable English base words.

Etymology

Oxycephaly comes from Greek parts oxy- meaning 'sharp' and kephale meaning 'head'. So it literally means 'sharp head', which helps remember that oxycephaly is a condition where the top of the skull is unusually pointed.