Anencephaly (Noun)
Meaning
A defect in brain development resulting in small or missing brain hemispheres.
Classification
Nouns denoting natural processes.
Examples
- Anencephaly is a serious birth defect in which a baby is born without parts of the brain and skull.
- Prenatal ultrasound and MRI can help diagnose anencephaly as early as 10-14 weeks of pregnancy.
- Anencephaly is usually detected during a routine ultrasound examination performed between 16 and 18 weeks of pregnancy.
- The exact cause of anencephaly is unknown, but it is thought to be related to a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
- Anencephaly is a rare condition that occurs in about 1 in 10,000 births in the United States, with girls being affected more often than boys.