What does microcephaly mean?
Definitions for microcephaly
ˌmaɪ kroʊˈsɛf ə limi·cro·cepha·ly
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word microcephaly.
Princeton's WordNet
microcephaly, microcephalus, nanocephalynoun
an abnormally small head and underdeveloped brain
Wiktionary
microcephalynoun
A neurological disorder in which the person affected has an abnormally small head due to a failure of brain growth.
Wikipedia
Microcephaly
Microcephaly (from New Latin microcephalia, from Ancient Greek μικρός mikrós "small" and κεφαλή kephalé "head") is a medical condition involving a smaller-than-normal head. Microcephaly may be present at birth or it may develop in the first few years of life. Since brain growth is correlated with head growth, people with this disorder often have an intellectual disability, poor motor function, poor speech, abnormal facial features, seizures and dwarfism.The disorder is caused by a disruption to the genetic processes that form the brain early in pregnancy, though the cause is not identified in most cases. Many genetic syndromes can result in microcephaly, including chromosomal and single-gene conditions, though almost always in combination with other symptoms. Mutations that result solely in microcephaly (primary microcephaly) exist but are less common. External toxins to the embryo, such as alcohol during pregnancy or vertically transmitted infections, can also result in microcephaly. Microcephaly serves as an important neurological indication or warning sign, but no uniformity exists in its definition. It is usually defined as a head circumference (HC) more than two standard deviations below the mean for age and sex. Some academics advocate defining it as head circumference more than three standard deviations below the mean for the age and sex.There is no specific treatment that returns the head size to normal. In general, life expectancy for individuals with microcephaly is reduced, and the prognosis for normal brain function is poor. Occasional cases develop normal intelligence and grow normally (apart from persistently small head circumference). It is reported that in the United States, microcephaly occurs in 1 in 800-5,000 births.
ChatGPT
microcephaly
Microcephaly is a neurodevelopmental disorder where the circumference of the head is smaller than average for a person's age or sex. It's a congenital condition, which means it is present at birth. This condition often indicates that the brain has not developed properly or has stopped growing, potentially leading to various accompanying physical and intellectual disabilities. The severity of symptoms varies widely among affected individuals.
Wikidata
Microcephaly
Microcephaly is a neurodevelopmental disorder. It is an important neurologic sign but there is nonuniformity in the definition of microcephaly. It is usually defined as a head circumference more than 2 standard deviation below the mean for age and gender. Some academics advocate defining it as head circumference more than 3 standard deviation below the mean for the age and sex. Microcephaly may be congenital or it may develop in the first few years of life. The disorder may stem from a wide variety of conditions that cause abnormal growth of the brain, or from syndromes associated with chromosomal abnormalities. A homozygous mutation in one of the microcephalin genes causes primary microcephaly. In general, life expectancy for individuals with microcephaly is reduced and the prognosis for normal brain function is poor. The prognosis varies depending on the presence of associated abnormalities.
U.S. National Library of Medicine
Microcephaly
A congenital abnormality in which the CEREBRUM is underdeveloped, the fontanels close prematurely, and, as a result, the head is small. (Desk Reference for Neuroscience, 2nd ed.)
Anagrams for microcephaly »
pyrochemical
Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of microcephaly in Chaldean Numerology is: 7
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of microcephaly in Pythagorean Numerology is: 2
Examples of microcephaly in a Sentence
We don't know yet if this virus crosses the placenta and generates or causes microcephaly. We think it plays a role. There's no doubt about that.
We now have an accumulating number of cases in babies from miscarriage or who were born with microcephaly with evidence of Zika, that suggests a stronger and stronger relationship of Zika and microcephaly.
Members of the committee admit that the situation meets the conditions for a public health emergency of international concern, i have accepted this advice. I am now declaring that the recent cluster of microcephaly and other neurological abnormalities reported in Latin America following a similar cluster in French Polynesia in 2014 constitutes a public health emergency of international concern.
It's going to be a big concern as we go into the warmer spring and summer months, when we start seeing a large uptick in the Aedes aegypti (that carries Zika) on the Gulf Coast, we could see an uptick in Zika ... and if we start seeing a large number of Zika cases, the prediction would be that we would start to see Guillain-Barre and microcephaly.
Our analysis strongly supports the hypothesis that Zika virus infection during the first trimester of pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of microcephaly.
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"microcephaly." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Mar. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/microcephaly>.
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