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112 terms
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Learn more about Acceleration/deceleration
Acceleration/deceleration
A CLOSED HEAD INJURY often sustained in car accidents, where the brain smashes forwards and then backwards, rebounding against the walls of the skull, causing damage to both the FRONTAL LOBES and the back of the brain.
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Learn more about Amnesia
Amnesia
Failure of memory. (also see POST TRAUMATIC AMNESIA) - amnesia following a traumatic event)
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Learn more about Aneurysm
Aneurysm
Swelling or dilation of an artery due to a weakened wall. Also spelled 'Aneurism'.
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Learn more about Anomia
Anomia
The inability to name objects or items.
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Learn more about Anoxia
Anoxia
Complete oxygen starvation. A condition in which the oxygen supply to the tissues is cut off completely. Partial loss of oxygen supply to the tissues is known as HYPOXIA.
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Learn more about Apathy
Apathy
A direct result of brain injury to frontal lobe structures which concern emotion, motivation and forward planning.
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Learn more about Apraxia/Dyspraxia
Apraxia/Dyspraxia
Inability to plan and perform purposeful movements, while still having the ability to move and be aware of movements.
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Learn more about Arachnoid
Arachnoid
The middle of the three membranes covering and protecting the brain and spinal cord. The arachnoid membrane lies below the DURA mater and directly above the SUBARACHNOID SPACE.
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Learn more about Arterial line
Arterial line
A very thin tube (catheter) inserted into an artery to allow direct measurement of the blood pressure, the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood.
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Learn more about Athetosis
Athetosis
Abnormal writhing movements, particularly of the hands, seen in a number of brain disorders and following brain injury.
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Learn more about Axon/dendrites
Axon/dendrites
Parts of nerve cells in the brain which look like small hair-like tentacles. The cells receive information via the dendrites and communicate with each other by passing electrical signals down the axons and releasing chemical signals at their ends.
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Learn more about Basal Ganglia
Basal Ganglia
Collections of grey matter in the deep areas of the brain, below the cerebral cortex. They are involved in the control of movement and injury may produce a disturbance resembling Parkinson's disease.
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Learn more about Blindsight
Blindsight
A phenomenon in which people who are perceptually blind in a certain area of their visual field demonstrate some response to visual stimuli.
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Learn more about Brain plasticity
Brain plasticity
The ability of intact brain nerve cells (neurones) to make new connections and, in some cases, take over functions of damaged cells. Neuronal plasticity plays a crucial role in memory and diminishes as a person gets older.
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Learn more about Brainstem
Brainstem
The lower extension of the brain where it connects to the spinal cord. Neurological functions located in the brain stem include those necessary for survival (breathing, heart rate) and for arousal (being awake and alert).
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Learn more about Broca's area
Broca's area
An area of the brain crucial to language processing, speech production and understanding. (see also: WERNICKE'S AREA).
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Learn more about Cardiac arrest
Cardiac arrest
The heart stops beating and there is no effective circulation of blood to the body, so that the brain and other organs rapidly become starved of oxygen (See also: HYPOXIA or ANOXIA)
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Learn more about Catheter
Catheter
A tube which is inserted into any body part to withdraw or introduce fluids.
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Learn more about Cerebellum
Cerebellum
Area at the back of the brain, below the cerebral hemispheres, involved in the control of movement, co-ordination, posture and balance.
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Learn more about Cerebral
Cerebral
Concerning the brain.
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Learn more about Cerebral angiogram
Cerebral angiogram
An X-ray picture of the blood vessels inside the head. A drug is injected via the groin artery to outline these cerebral vessels.
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Learn more about Cerebral anoxia
Cerebral anoxia
A complete interruption of the supply of oxygen to the brain.
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Learn more about Cerebral hypoxia
Cerebral hypoxia
A partial interruption of the supply of oxygen to the brain, which becomes inadequate to maintain normal brain function.
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Learn more about Cerebral ischaemia
Cerebral ischaemia
A deficiency of blood supply to brain tissue, due to an interruption or reduction of arterial blood flow.
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Learn more about Cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF)
Cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF)
Liquid which fills the ventricles of the brain and surrounds the brain and spinal cord.
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Learn more about Cerebrum
Cerebrum
This is the largest part of the human brain, which occupies most of the skull cavity. It is made up of the two cerebral hemispheres.
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Learn more about Chorea
Chorea
Brief, involuntary jerky movements involving the limbs and face, seen in a number of brain disorders and following brain injury.
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Learn more about Closed head injury
Closed head injury
Damage to the brain where there is no penetration from the scalp or skull through to brain tissue. Often there is no injury to scalp or skull.
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Learn more about Coma
Coma
A state of deep and often prolonged unconsciousness.
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Learn more about Confabulation
Confabulation
Verbalisations about people, places or events with no basis in reality.
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Learn more about Contracoup
Contracoup
Bruising of the brain tissue in the side opposite to where the blow was struck.
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Learn more about Contractures
Contractures
Joints and muscles which are not used regularly quickly becoming stiff, and rendering them resistant to stretching.
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Learn more about Cortical blindness
Cortical blindness
Loss of visual function resulting from damage to the main visual areas, which are located in the occipital lobes at the back of the brain.
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Learn more about Cranial nerves
Cranial nerves
A set of 12 pairs of nerves originating in the brainstem, the oldest part of the brain. Functions of the cranial nerves include control of eye movement and blinking.
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Learn more about Craniotomy
Craniotomy
Surgical removal of the skull in small pieces.
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Learn more about CT scan/CAT scan
CT scan/CAT scan
Computerised tomography. A series of X-rays at different levels of the brain. (Tomography is a technique using X-rays to build up a focused image of a "slice" through the body at a given level).
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Learn more about Cyanosis
Cyanosis
A bluish tinge to the skin, caused by a deficiency of oxygen in the blood, and often most apparent around the lips and mouth and in the fingertips.
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Learn more about Demyelination
Demyelination
Loss of the fatty insulating sheath (myelin) surrounding nerve axons, which impairs their function by interfering with their ability to conduct electrical nerve impulses normally.
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Learn more about Diencephalon
Diencephalon
The midbrain. This contains discrete nerve centres including the hypothalamus, which controls appetite regulation, sexual arousal, thirst and temperature control, and some aspects of memory. The diencephalon also contains the thalamus, the body's sensory gateway to the brain.
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Learn more about Diffuse axonal injury
Diffuse axonal injury
Widespread tearing of nerve fibres across the whole of the brain.
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Learn more about Diffuse brain injury
Diffuse brain injury
Injury to cells in many areas of the brain rather than in one specific location.
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Learn more about Diplopia
Diplopia
Double vision
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Learn more about Disinhibition
Disinhibition
Difficulty in controlling urges and impulses to speak, act or show emotions.
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Learn more about Dura
Dura
Outermost of the three membranes protecting the brain and spinal cord.
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Learn more about Dysarthria
Dysarthria
Difficulty speaking because of weakness and lack of co-ordination of the muscles for speech.
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Learn more about Dyspraxia
Dyspraxia
Inability to plan and perform purposeful movements, while still having the ability to move and be aware of the movement.
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Learn more about Echolalia
Echolalia
Imitation of sounds or words without comprehension. This is a normal stage of language development in infants but is abnormal for adults.
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Learn more about Electroencephalogram (EEG)
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
EEG is a test used to record any changes of electrical activity in the brain by placing electrodes on the scalp.
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Learn more about Emotional lability
Emotional lability
Rapid and drastic changes in emotional state (such as laughing, crying or anger) that are inappropriate.
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Learn more about Epilepsy
Epilepsy
There are many varied presentations. Seizure or fit activity involving parts of or the complete body.
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Learn more about Evoked potentials
Evoked potentials
Electrical responses of the brain to stimulation, recorded from the scalp.
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Learn more about Focal brain injury
Focal brain injury
Injury restricted to one region (as opposed to diffuse).
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Learn more about Frontal lobes
Frontal lobes
The largest lobes of the brain, occupying the front part of the cerebral hemispheres. As well as containing the areas controlling voluntary movement and speech production, the frontal lobes are involved in the executive functions of thinking and reasoning, the integration of complex information, judgement, decision-making and planning for the future. They also have an important role in social behaviour, personality and emotion.
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Learn more about Gastrostomy
Gastrostomy
The creation of an opening into the stomach for the administration of foods and fluids when swallowing is impossible.
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Learn more about Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)
Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)
A score given to head injured patients starting immediately after the head injury to measure the degree of unconsciousness. A score of 7 or less indicates that the person is in a coma. A maximum score of 15 indicates that the person can speak coherently, obey commands to move, and can spontaneously open their eyes.
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Learn more about Glutamate
Glutamate
The major excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain. Excessive glutamate release (or cascade) following TBI can be a major cause of nerve cell death in the second injury.
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Learn more about Grey matter
Grey matter
Nerve cell bodies in the brain, which have a greyish appearance and make up the cerebral cortex.
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Learn more about Gyrus (pl. gyri)
Gyrus (pl. gyri)
A ridge of the cerebral cortex (also see SULCUS).
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Learn more about Haemoglobin
Haemoglobin
A substance in the red blood cells, which takes up oxygen in the lungs and transports it to the tissues of the body.
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Learn more about Haemorrhage
Haemorrhage
Blood loss, bleeding
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Learn more about Head injury - mild/minor
Head injury - mild/minor
May causes brief loss of consciousness for 15 minutes or less with a period of post-traumatic amnesia of less than 1 hour.
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Learn more about Head injury - moderate
Head injury - moderate
Defined as being a condition where the patient has been in a coma for 6 hours, and a period of post-traumatic amnesia of up to 24 hours.
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Learn more about Head injury - severe
Head injury - severe
Defined as being a condition where the patient has been in a coma for 6 hours or more, or a post-traumatic amnesia of 24 hours or more.
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Learn more about Hippocampus
Hippocampus
A structure on the inner surface of the temporal lobes, which is made up mainly of grey matter and has an important role in memory processes. Damage to the hippocampus may lead to memory problems.
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Learn more about Homeostasis
Homeostasis
The ability or tendency of an organism or cell to maintain internal equilibrium by adjusting its physiological processes. For example, sweating when hot in order to keep the core body temperature at 98.6 degrees maintains homeostasis.
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Learn more about Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HOT)
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HOT)
A specialised treatment sometimes used in severe anoxic states - particularly after carbon monoxide poisoning - which involves giving pure oxygen at increased pressure in a hyperbaric chamber.
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Learn more about Hypopituitarism
Hypopituitarism
The condition in which the pituitary gland doesn't produce adequate levels of one or more hormones.
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Learn more about Hypothalamus
Hypothalamus
A small structure just above the brain stem. The hypothalamus detects levels of hormones in the blood and controls the pituitary gland's release of hormones in order to keep the levels stable (also see pituitary gland).
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Learn more about Hypoxic-ischaemic injury
Hypoxic-ischaemic injury
Damage caused by an interruption of oxygen supply (hypoxia) linked with a reduction in the blood flow to the brain (ischaemia), such as occurs when the heart stops beating in a cardiac arrest.
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Learn more about Impulsivity
Impulsivity
A tendency to rush into something without reflecting or thinking first.
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Learn more about Infarction
Infarction
Death of brain cells resulting from an interruption of their blood supply, as occurs in a stroke.
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Learn more about Intracranial pressure (ICP) monitor
Intracranial pressure (ICP) monitor
A monitoring device to determine the pressure within the brain. It consists of a small tube (catheter) in contact with the pulsing brain or the fluid cavity within it. ICP is measured by means of a metal screw or a plastic catheter connected to an electronic measuring device.
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Learn more about Limbic system
Limbic system
A group of deep cortical structures connected to the hypothalamus, governing memory, emotions and basic drives, including sex drive.
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Learn more about Locked in system
Locked in system
A condition in which the patient is awake and retains the ability to sense and perceive, but is unable to communicate except by limited eye movements. This is due to the motor nervous system being paralysed. It can sometimes be confused with persistent vegetative state.
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Learn more about Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
A scanning technique for producing high resolution images of the brain, which give much better detail than CT scans. MRI uses a strong magnetic field rather than X-rays to produce the images.
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Learn more about Mannitol
Mannitol
A solution which removes water from the brain by accelerating urinary excretion and thus reduces raised intracranial pressure.
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Learn more about Minimally conscious state (MCS)
Minimally conscious state (MCS)
A state of profoundly altered consciousness seen following a severe brain injury, in which there is some evidence of minimal awareness, although this is far removed from anything approaching normal appreciation of the surroundings or of what is happening.
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Learn more about Motor cortex
Motor cortex
The part of the brain involved in planning and executing voluntary movements. The primary motor cortex lies directly in front of the primary SENSORY CORTEX on the upper surface of the brain.
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Learn more about Myelin
Myelin
A fatty insulating sheath, which surrounds nerve axons and improves the efficiency of transmission of the electrical nerve impulses along them.
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Learn more about Myoclonus
Myoclonus
Sudden, shock-like muscle twitches or jerks, seen in various brain disorders and quite common following severe cerebral anoxia.
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Learn more about Nasogastric tube
Nasogastric tube
This is the very thin tube that is threaded through the nose and throat into the stomach for giving liquid food and pureed meals. Used if there are swallowing difficulties.
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Learn more about Nerve call bodies
Nerve call bodies
The largest part of a nerve cell. The cell body holds all of the general parts of a cell as well as the nucleus, which is the control centre.
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Learn more about Neuro-transmitters
Neuro-transmitters
Chemicals made in the nervous system that serve as messengers, aiding or interfering with the functions of the nerve cells.
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Learn more about Neurogenic diabetes insipidus
Neurogenic diabetes insipidus
A condition which causes thirst and excessive production of dilute urine due to the pituitary gland not producing enough of the hormone vasopressin (anti-diuretic hormone).
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Learn more about Neuron
Neuron
A nerve cell.
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Learn more about Occipital lobes
Occipital lobes
Area at the back of the cerebral hemispheres, containing the main visual centres.
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Learn more about Open head injury
Open head injury
An injury where there is penetration of the scalp and skull through to brain tissue.
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Learn more about Parietal lobes
Parietal lobes
The part of each cerebral hemisphere primarily concerned with the perception and interpretation of sensation and movement.
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Learn more about Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease
A slowly progressive brain disease involving the basal ganglia and causing reduced movement, rigidity and tremor. Damage to the basal ganglia - which can occur in cerebral anoxia - may produce symptoms resembling spontaneously occurring Parkinson's disease.
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Learn more about Pia
Pia
One of the three membranes surrounding and protecting the brain and spinal cord. The pia lies below the SUBARACHNOID SPACE in direct contact with the surface of the nerve tissue.
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Learn more about Pituitary gland
Pituitary gland
A small structure at the base of the brain which releases a wide variety of hormones that, in turn, control the activity of the body's other hormone glands.
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Learn more about Post-concussion syndrome
Post-concussion syndrome
A group of symptoms occurring after minor head injury that may persist for days, weeks or months.
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Learn more about Post-traumatic amnesia (PTA)
Post-traumatic amnesia (PTA)
The period after being unconscious when there may be confused behaviour and no continuous memory of day to day events.
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Learn more about Proprioception
Proprioception
The sensory awareness of the position of body parts with or without movement.
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Learn more about Respiratory arrest
Respiratory arrest
Breathing stops and there is no effective supply of fresh oxygen to the blood from the lungs. If breathing is not restored, cardiac arrest will quickly follow, as the heart muscle becomes starved of oxygen.
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Learn more about Retrograde amnesia
Retrograde amnesia
The loss of memory of events for a period prior to the injury.
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Learn more about Rigidity
Rigidity
This simply means stiffness, resistance to movement.
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Learn more about Sensory cortex
Sensory cortex
The primary sensory cortex is situated on the upper surface of the cerebrum, directly behind the MOTOR CORTEX. Different areas of the sensory cortex specifically deal with the sensations experienced in different parts of the body.
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Learn more about Shunt
Shunt
A devise to draw off excess fluid in the brain. A surgically placed tube runs from the ventricles and deposits fluid into either the abdominal cavity, heart or large veins in the neck.
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Learn more about Somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs)
Somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs)
Electrical responses of the brain recorded from the scalp following stimulation of nerves in the limbs. Failure to obtain SSEPs in someone in coma following an anoxic brain injury is associated with a poor outcome.
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Learn more about Subarachnoid space
Subarachnoid space
The space between the ARACHNOID membrane and PIA mater. The subarachnoid space is filled with fluid (see: CSF).
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Learn more about Sulcus (pl. sulci)
Sulcus (pl. sulci)
A groove of the cerebral cortex (also see GYRUS).
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Learn more about Temporal lobes
Temporal lobes
The part of the cerebral hemispheres located under the frontal and parietal lobes, lying inwards of the ears. It has a range of important functions and is involved with hearing and some complex aspects of auditory, language and visual perception, as well as memory and emotion.
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Learn more about Therapeutic hypothermia
Therapeutic hypothermia
Artificial cooling may be used to lower the core body temperature, as a means of reducing the metabolism of brain cells and decreasing their oxygen requirement. There is some evidence that this may have a protective effect on the brain following cardiac arrest and in other anoxic states, although this remains controversial.
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Learn more about Tracheostomy
Tracheostomy
An operation to insert a plastic tube in the neck just below the Adam's apple. Through this tube, an adequate air passage can be maintained. It may be necessary to leave the tube in the windpipe for a prolonged period.
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Learn more about Traumatic brain injury
Traumatic brain injury
Damage to the brain resulting from a head injury.
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Learn more about Tremor
Tremor
Regular repetitive movements which may be worse either at rest or on attempted movement.
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Learn more about Vegetative state (VS)
Vegetative state (VS)
After a very severe brain injury, there may be a transition from coma into a vegetative state. Basic functions such as breathing and maintaining the heartbeat and blood pressure all continue, but without evidence of consciousness in any meaningful sense and with no response to the environment and no ability to communicate.
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Learn more about Ventilator
Ventilator
A machine that does the breathing work for the unresponsive patient. It delivers moistened (humidified) air with the appropriate percentage of oxygen and at the appropriate rate and pressure.
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Learn more about Ventricles
Ventricles
Cavities (spaces) inside the brain which contain cerebro-spinal fluid.
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Learn more about Wernicke's Area
Wernicke's Area
Located in the temporal lobes, this is an area of the brain concerned with producing speech (See also BROCA'S AREA).
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Learn more about White matter
White matter
White coloured nerve tissue in the brain made up of myelin covered axons, which transmit electrical signals through the nervous system. The white matter lies underneath the grey matter of the cerebral cortex and white matter tracts travel down through the brainstem and into the spinal cord.