cephalo-, cephal-; -cephalic, -cephalism, -cephalous, -cephalus; -cephaly
(Greek: head)
Sometimes these "head" elements are also written as: kephalo-, kephal-, etc.
The cephalic index is a rating scale which is used to measure the size of the head.
The rating on the cephalic index is obtained by multiplying the maximum width of the head by 100 and dividing that number by the maximum length of the head and the numbers between 75 and 80 are considered normal.
2. Having the cranial cavity of medium capacity which is neither megacephalic (abnormally large head) nor microcephalic (abnormally small head).3. Etymology: from the Greek word mesos, "middle" + the Greek word kephale, "head" + Greek ikos, "pertaining to". Put the words together and you have "pertaining to (a) medium head."
2. The cerebellum and pons of the adult brain.
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.
Infants with microcephaly are born with either a normal or reduced head size. Subsequently the head fails to grow while the face continues to develop at a normal rate, producing a child with an abnormally small head, a large face, a receding forehead, and a loose, often wrinkled scalp.
As the child grows older, the smallness of the skull becomes more obvious, although the entire body also is often underweight and dwarfed. Development of motor functions and speech may also be delayed.
2. Relating to or located on or near the front of the head or the brain; for example, of an embryo.