myelocele
(ˈmaɪələʊsiːl)
Also (erron.) -cœle.
[f. myelo- + Gr. κήλη tumour, esp. rupture, hernia.]
1. Path. a. = myelomeningocele. b. Spina bifida in which tissue of the spinal cord lies exposed over part of its length, without protrusion as a swelling; an area of neural tissue so exposed.
| 1875 Jones & Sieveking Path. Anat. (ed. 2) xii. 290 The protruded sac contains some portion of the spinal cord itself, forming the so-called myelocele. 1922 Brain XLV. 44 Myelocele... Here.. segments of the medullary folds have remained open and the neural ectoderm lies exposed on the surface of the body as a ribbon of delicate tissue down the mid-dorsal line. 1924 J. A. Foote Dis. New-Born x. 140 Myelocele, or meningo-myelocele, is the name given to the tumor when the spinal cord itself is concerned in the embryonic fissure. 1952 J. E. Morison Foetal & Neonatal Path. xiv. 247 Especially when the tissues are infected a myelocoele may be incorrectly described as a myelomeningocoele. 1963 [see myelomeningocele]. 1974 Passmore & Robson Compan. Med. Stud. III. xxxvi. 9/2 The [spinal] cord may be fully exposed, usually for a length of several segments without any covering from the dura mater, forming a myelocoele. |
2. Anat. Var. of myelocœle.