n. A usually congenital condition in which an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the cerebral ventricles causes enlargement of the skull and compression of the brain, destroying much of the neural tissue. [New Latin, from Greek hudrokephalon : hudro-, hydro- + kephalē, head; see ghebh-el- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] hy′dro·ce·phalic (-sə-fălĭk), hy′dro·cepha·loid′ (-loid′), hy′dro·cepha·lous (-ləs) adj. |
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