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Hydrocephalus
Background
Hydrocephalus is commonly, but inaccurately, known as 'water on the brain'. There are four cavities called ventricles inside the brain. A watery fluid known as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flows through narrow passageways in the brain from one ventricle to the next, out over the outside of the brain and down the spinal cord. CSF is continuously absorbed into the blood stream and the amount of pressure is kept within a narrow range. Hydrocephalus describes a condition where the flow of fluid is obstructed and then accumulates in the ventricles, causing them to enlarge and compress surrounding brain tissue and interfere with the blood supply to the brain. In babies – but not older children or adults – the head will enlarge.
