How Do You Spell EXENCEPHALY?

Pronunciation: [ɛɡzˈɛnsɪfəli] (IPA)

Exencephaly is a medical condition where the brain of a fetus is located outside its skull. The spelling of this word can be explained using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) as /ˌɛksɛnˈsɛfəli/. The "x" in "ex" replaces the "c" in the root word "encephaly" to indicate the prefix "ex-" meaning "out of." The stress falls on the second syllable, represented by the acute accent over the "e" in "-cephaly." This IPA transcription may be useful in understanding the pronunciation and spelling of exotic medical terms.

EXENCEPHALY Meaning and Definition

1. Exencephaly is a rare congenital disorder characterized by the absence of the skull vault and the partial or complete exposure of the brain. It is a type of neural tube defect that occurs during early development of the embryo, resulting in the failure of the neural tube to close properly and subsequently the abnormal development of the brain.

   In exencephaly, the brain tissue is not properly enclosed and protected by the skull, which leads to significant exposure of the brain externally. The condition is often identified during prenatal ultrasounds, where the absence of the skull can be detected. Infants born with exencephaly have a very limited chance of survival, as the complete exposure of the brain leaves it susceptible to damage from external factors like infections or trauma.

   Exencephaly is considered a severe birth defect and is thought to have a multifactorial etiology, with both genetic and environmental factors playing a role in its development. The condition is often associated with other abnormalities, such as disorders affecting the spinal cord or other parts of the central nervous system.

   Due to its poor prognosis, treatment options for exencephaly are limited, and the focus is mainly on supportive care to ensure the infant's comfort. Discussions with healthcare professionals typically revolve around palliative care options and decisions pertaining to the quality of life for the affected infant.

Common Misspellings for EXENCEPHALY

• wxencephaly
• sxencephaly
• dxencephaly
• rxencephaly
• 4xencephaly
• 3xencephaly
• ezencephaly
• ecencephaly
• edencephaly
• esencephaly
• exwncephaly
• exsncephaly
• exdncephaly
• exrncephaly
• ex4ncephaly
• ex3ncephaly
• exebcephaly
• exemcephaly
• exejcephaly
• exehcephaly

Etymology of EXENCEPHALY

The word "exencephaly" is derived from the combination of two Greek roots: "ex" meaning "out of" or "outside", and "enkephalos" meaning "brain". "Exencephaly" is a medical term used to describe a severe congenital malformation where the brain is located outside the skull due to the incomplete closure of the neural tube during embryonic development.

Similar spelling words for EXENCEPHALY

• Exencephale,
• exencephalia.