Swelling of the brain due to the uptake of water in the neuropile and white matter.
Cerebral edema is a dangerous condition where the brain's water content rises, causing the pressure to rise in the skull. Unlike swelling in other parts of the body, where there is room for extra fluid (think of a sprained ankle), the brain is protected by a hard, inflexible skull that can expand very little. Cerebral edema: Accumulation of excessive fluid in the substance of the brain. The brain is especially susceptible to injury from edema, because it is located within a confined space and cannot expand. Also known as brain edema, brain swelling, swelling of the brain, and wet brain. Noun. 1. cerebral edema-swelling of the brain due to the uptake of water in the neuropile and white matter. brain edema. dropsy, edema, hydrops, oedema-swelling from excessive accumulation of watery fluid in cells, tissues, or serous cavities. Jack Ren and Dr Ayush Goel et al. Vasogenic cerebral oedema refers to a type of cerebral oedema in which the blood brain barrier (BBB) is disrupted (c.f. cytotoxic cerebral oedema where BBB is intact). It is an extracellular oedema which mainly affects the white matter, through leakage of fluid out of capillaries. cerebral edema. Etymology: L, cerebrum + Gk, oidema, swelling. an accumulation of fluid in the brain tissues. Causes include infection, tumor, trauma, or exposure to certain toxins. Because the skull cannot expand to accommodate the fluid pressure, brain tissues are compressed.
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cerebral oedema definition