What does hydrocephaly mean?
Hydrocephaly is the medical term for an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid within the brain. The buildup can increase pressure, enlarge the ventricles, and produce a noticeably enlarged head, particularly in infants with congenital hydrocephaly. The condition may also occur in adults and can result from congenital abnormalities, infections, tumors, injury, or other causes. The word is used mainly in medicine and related health contexts, while “hydrocephalus” is a widely understood alternative. Although the condition is serious, its outlook varies according to its cause, severity, and treatment. Understanding the term is useful because it refers both to a specific disorder and to the distinctive physical changes that fluid accumulation can cause in the developing brain.
nounHydrocephaly is a medical condition in which cerebrospinal fluid accumulates within the brain, causing increased pressure and enlargement of the brain’s fluid-containing spaces. It most commonly affects infants but can occur at any age.
- A disorder involving an abnormal buildup of cerebrospinal fluid within the brain, especially in infants.
"The infant was diagnosed with hydrocephaly after an ultrasound revealed an enlarged head and abnormal widening of the brain’s ventricles."
"The doctors treated the child's hydrocephaly with surgery to drain the excess fluid."
"Research is continuing into the long-term effects of hydrocephaly on childhood development."
The plural is uncommon; “cases of hydrocephaly” is often clearer and more natural.
"The clinic specializes in treating hydrocephalies in children."
The word describes a condition in which the brain’s protective fluid becomes trapped in the wrong place, turning a familiar medical term into a vivid reminder of the brain’s delicate fluid dynamics.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does hydrocephaly come from?
The word combines the Greek roots hydro-, meaning “water,” and kephalē, meaning “head.” It was developed in the nineteenth century in medical literature to describe the accumulation of fluid in the brain. The related form hydrocephalus comes from the same Greek elements and is now commonly used as an alternative name.
Related word forms
How hydrocephaly is actually used
This is a formal medical term. In general writing, it is often called hydrocephalus; “water on the brain” is an informal description and may be unsuitable in sensitive or clinical contexts.
Easily confused with hydrocephaly
Hydrocephalus is a commonly used alternative name for the same condition, although hydrocephaly is the more specific dictionary form.