What is "encephalocele"

Encephalocele \En*ceph"a*lo*cele\, n. [Gr. 'egke`falos the brain + kh`lh tumor.] (Med.) Hernia of the brain.

n. (context medicine English) A form of hernia of the brain and its membranes through an opening in the skull

n. protrusion of brain tissue through a congenital fissure in the skull

Encephalocele, sometimes known as cranium bifidum, is a neural tube defect characterized by sac-like protrusions of the brain and the membranes that cover it through openings in the skull. These defects are caused by failure of the neural tube to close completely during fetal development. Encephaloceles cause a groove down the middle of the skull, or between the forehead and nose, or on the back side of the skull. The severity of encephalocele varies, depending on its location.