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The brain constitutes approximately one-fiftieth of body weight and lies within the cranial cavity formed by the cranium or skull. Our next three roots are associated with the head, cranium and brain:
| Root 3 | Cephal- | from a Greek word kephale meaning the head. Here cephal/o means the head. |
| Combining form | Cephal/o | head |
Hydrocephalus, literally meaning a thing (-us) with water in the head is occasionally found in the newborn (hydr/o= water). The condition is characterized by excess cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF) in the ventricles of the brain. If not corrected, it results in compression of the brain and mental impairment.
| Root 4 | Encephal- | from a Greek word encephalos meaning brain. Here encephal/o means the brain. |
| Combining form | Encephal/o | brain |
Notice encephal/o is formed from the root cephal- meaning head and the prefix en- meaning within. Encephal/o is used to mean the brain because this structure lies within the head.
A common procedure called electroencephalography measures the electrical activity of the brain.
| Root 5 | Crani- | from a Greek word kranion meaning skull. Here crani/o means the cranium, the part of the skull enclosing the brain. |
| Combining form | Crani/o | cranium |
The brain is soft and delicate and is well protected by the cranium. The
lower parts of the brain extend and form into the spinal cord that leaves
through an opening in the cranium called the foramen
magnum. The spinal cord is also well protected by the bones of
the vertebral column that form our spine.
In the adult, the cranium is made up of a number of flat bones fused
together at immovable, fibrous joints called sutures.To
gain access to the brain for surgical procedures, the cranium has to be
opened.
| Clinical Point |
Craniotomy | Incision into the skull / cranium, usually part of the skull is removed for access to the brain. Following the procedure the skull, skin and membranes are sewn back into position. |
| Cephal/o | = | head |
| Crani/o | = | cranium |
| Encephal/o | = | brain |
Before completing the next exercises, learn the meaning of the next set of suffixes in Dictionary Exercise 3. When you are satisfied you know their meaning, continue. Note: there is some repetition of word components in dictionary exercises that you may have studied in previous units, these can be skipped as you become more confident.