Anencephalic is a term that is used to describe a rare congenital disorder that affects the development of the brain and skull. It is a condition where the brain and skull do not fully develop, resulting in the absence of the cerebral hemispheres, which are the parts of the brain responsible for consciousness, thought, and movement.
Definitions
Anencephalic is an adjective that describes a person or animal born without a functioning brain or skull. It is derived from the Greek words “an” meaning without and “encephalon” meaning brain.
Origin
The term anencephalic was first used in medical literature in the early 20th century to describe infants born with a severe form of neural tube defect. The word is derived from the Greek words “an” meaning without and “encephalon” meaning brain.
Meaning in different dictionaries
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, anencephalic means “lacking a major portion of the brain and skull.” The Oxford English Dictionary defines it as “a congenital absence of the brain and skull.”
Associations
Anencephalic is associated with severe neurological abnormalities and is usually fatal within a few hours or days of birth. The condition is often diagnosed during pregnancy through ultrasound or other imaging techniques.
Synonyms
Some synonyms for anencephalic include brainless, mindless, and senseless.
Antonyms
Antonyms for anencephalic include intelligent, clever, and brainy.
The same root words
The same root words as anencephalic include encephalitis, encephalopathy, and encephalogram.
Example Sentences
- The anencephalic baby was born with only a brainstem and could not survive without life support.
- The doctors informed the parents that their unborn child had anencephaly, a severe form of neural tube defect.
- The anencephalic puppy was born without a skull and had to be euthanized.
Anencephalic is a term used to describe a rare congenital disorder that affects the development of the brain and skull. It is a condition where the brain and skull do not fully develop, resulting in the absence of the cerebral hemispheres. The condition is often diagnosed during pregnancy through ultrasound or other imaging techniques, and it is usually fatal within a few hours or days of birth.