Hydranencephalies is a medical term that refers to a condition where the cerebral hemispheres of the brain are replaced with fluid-filled sacs. The spelling of this word can be broken down phonetically as "hy-dran-en-ceph-a-lies" with the stress on the third syllable. The IPA transcription for each syllable is /haɪ/ /dræn/ /ɛn/ /sɛf/ /ə/ /liz/. This rare condition can result in severe developmental delays, seizures, and other neurological complications, and often requires ongoing medical management.
Hydranencephalies refers to a rare medical condition characterized by the absence or severe loss of the cerebral hemispheres of the brain, which are the outer layer and largest parts responsible for cognitive function. This condition arises during fetal development or infancy due to the occlusion of the internal carotid arteries, which supply blood to the brain. As a consequence, cerebral spinal fluid fills the space left by the missing hemispheres, leading to the expansion of the skull.
Individuals affected by hydranencephalies present a wide range of symptoms and clinical manifestations. Typically, they display severe intellectual disability, lack of voluntary movement control, and minimal interaction with their environment. In some cases, affected individuals may exhibit residual brain tissue along with various degrees of cognitive and motor function impairment.
Diagnosis of hydranencephalies is often made prenatally using ultrasonography or in infancy through brain imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scans. However, in some cases, it may be difficult to distinguish hydranencephaly from other brain abnormalities.
Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for hydranencephalies. Treatment options focus on managing symptoms and providing supportive care to optimize the affected individual's quality of life. This often includes physical and occupational therapy to improve mobility and function, medications to address associated conditions such as seizures, and ongoing medical monitoring to manage complications and ensure proper growth and development.
The word "Hydranencephalies" is derived from two separate terms: "hydranencephaly" and the plural suffix "-ies".
1. "Hydranencephaly": This term comes from the Greek words "hydra" meaning "water" and "encephalon" meaning "brain". Hydranencephaly is a rare condition where the cerebral hemispheres of the brain are absent or severely damaged, replaced with fluid-filled sacs.
2. "-ies": The suffix "-ies" is added to the end of "hydranencephaly" to form the plural form of the word "hydranencephalies", indicating that it refers to multiple instances of the condition.