Monro-Kellie doctrine /mənrō′ kel′ē/ [Alexander Monro, Scottish anatomist and surgeon, 1733–1817; George Kellie, Scottish anatomist, late 18th century] , the doctrine that the central nervous system and its accompanying fluids are enclosed in a rigid container whose total volume tends to remain constant. An increase in volume of one component (e.g., brain, blood, or cerebrospinal fluid) will elevate pressure and decrease the volume of one of the other elements.
