anencephaly

noun

Meaning

A congenital condition characterized by the absence of a major portion of the brain, skull, and scalp.

Examples

  • Prenatal screenings can often detect anencephaly during the early stages of pregnancy.
  • The severity of anencephaly means that most affected infants do not survive for long after birth.

Synonyms: birth defect, neural tube defect, congenital malformation