Standard Lemma guide

cranioschisis

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A developmental birth defect in which the cranium fails to close completely, so that the brain is exposed to the amnios and eventually degenerates, causing anencephaly.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • 1953, Biochemical Institute Studies, Issue 5, Biochemical Institute (of the University of Texas), page 51, E. M. Butt et al. have reported the production of meningoceles and cranioschises in chick embryos with 0.5 to 1.0 mg. of lead nitrate (21).

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From cranio- + schisis.

Across languages

Translations

2 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • French: cranioschisis — birth defect leading to anencephaly
  • German: Kranioschisis — birth defect leading to anencephaly