A mass in the wall of a blood vessel with a balloon like shape. As
it grows, the wall surrounding it weakens which may lead it to burst
resulting in a hemorrhage.
Autonomic Nervous System
The part of the nervous system that controls involuntary activities,
including the heart. It is divided into the sympathetic and parasympathetic
systems.
Axon
A nerve fiber that carries an impulse from the nerve cell to a target,
and carries materials from the nerve terminals back to the nerve cell.
.
Brainstem
The lower part of the brain that connects to the spinal cord. Functions
located in the brainstem include those necessary for survival (breathing,
heart rate) and for arousal (being awake and alert).
Central Nervous System
The Central Nervous System is composed of the brain and spinal cord.
Cerebellum
The part of the brain that helps coordinate movement.
Closed Head Injury
Trauma to the head regardless of severity.
Concussion
A violent non-penetrating injury to the brain. Often accompanied by
loss of consciousness.
Dendrite
Fibers extending from a nerve cell (neuron) that acts as receptors
for electrochemical nervous impulse transmissions.
Frontal Lobe
Front part of the brain; involved in planning, organizing, problem
solving, selective attention, personality and a variety of "higher
cognitive functions."
Ganglion
A mass of nervous tissue composed principally of nerve-cell bodies
and lying outside the brain or spinal cord
Head Injury
Any traumatic injury to the head regardless of severity.
Hematoma
The collection of blood in tissues following rupture of a blood vessel.
Can be epidural (outside the brain and its fibrous covering, but under
the skull), subdural (between the brain and its fibrous covering) or
intracerebral (in the brain tissue).
Hemorrhage
Abnormal internal or external discharge of blood.
Incomplete Injury
(head injury)
Injury leaving some sensation or motor control below spinal cord lesion.
Major Head Injury
Trauma to the brain resulting in loss of consciousness.
Minor Head Injury
Trauma to the head that does not necessarily result in the loss of
consciousness.
Open Head Injury
Trauma to the brain resulting in loss of consciousness due to the penetration
of the brain.
Paraplegia
Loss of function wherein the upper body retains most function and sensation.
Paraplegia often results in near complete paralysis of the lower limbs;
however, the degree of loss is variable.
Parietal
Lobes
Areas of the brain that control spatial information (right lobe) and
language (left lobe)
Post Concussion Syndrome
PCS includes impairments in the ability to think, act, and recall/learn
information. PCS is characterized by unreliable memory, rapid mood swings,
poor concentration, headache, dizziness, hypersensitivity, depression
and anxiety.
Quadraplegia
Loss of function affecting all four limbs.
Shearing
Microscopic lesions in the brain caused when the movement of the brain
within the skull puts strain on delicate nerve fibers and blood vessels
causing them to stretch to the point of breaking.
Synapse
Junction between a neuron and another neuron or muscle cell for transferring
brain signals, sensory inputs, etc., along the nervous system.
Temporal
Lobes
There are two temporal lobes, one on each side of the brain, at about
the level of the ears. They are crucial for short term memory along
with smell and hearing.
Trauma
A physical injury caused by violent or disruptive action
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
An injury to the brain regardless of severity.
Whiplash
Injury to the neck from violent back and forth movement of the head
and neck (such as in a rear end car collision). Such injuries can cause
brain damage even without direct injury to the head.
