Head Injury (Brain Injury) Glossary of TermsThe following are health and medical definitions of terms that appear in the Head Injury (Brain Injury) article.
Abnormal: Outside the expected norm, or uncharacteristic of a particular patient. Absorption: Uptake. For example, intestinal absorption is the uptake of food (or other sub... See the entire definition of AbsorptionAirway: The path that air follows to get into and out of the lungs. The mouth and nose are... See the entire definition of AirwayAmnesia: An impairment to or lack of memory. Antegrade amnesia refers to a lack of memory ... See the entire definition of AmnesiaAnalysis: In psychology, a term for conversation-based therapeutic processes used to gain ... See the entire definition of AnalysisAneurysm: A localized widening (dilatation) of an artery, a vein, or the heart. At the poi... See the entire definition of AneurysmArtery: A vessel that carries blood high in oxygen content away from the heart to the far... See the entire definition of ArteryAsymptomatic: Without symptoms. For example, an asymptomatic infection is an infection wit... See the entire definition of AsymptomaticAtrophy: A wasting away or diminution. Muscle atrophy is a decrease in muscle mass, often ... See the entire definition of AtrophyBacteria: Single-celled microorganisms that can exist either as independent (free-living) ... See the entire definition of BacteriaBasilar: Located at or near the base of a structure, especially the base of the skull. Blood clot: A mass of coagulated blood. A blood clot can block a major blood vessel, causi... See the entire definition of Blood clotBrain: The portion of the central nervous system that is located within the skull. It func... See the entire definition of BrainBrain stem: The stem-like part of the base of the brain that is connected to the spinal co... See the entire definition of Brain stemBrain swelling: See: Cerebral edema. Brainstem: The lowest part of the brain which merges with the spinal cord and provides the... See the entire definition of BrainstemBreathing: The process of respiration, during which air is inhaled into the lungs through ... See the entire definition of BreathingBruise: Injury of the soft tissues that results in breakage of the local capillaries and l... See the entire definition of BruiseCDC: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the US agency charged with tracking a... See the entire definition of CDCCell: The basic structural and functional unit of any living thing. Each cell is a small c... See the entire definition of CellCerebral: Of or pertaining to the cerebrum or the brain. Cerebral aneurysm: A localized widening of a vessel within the brain. See: Berry aneurysm... See the entire definition of Cerebral aneurysmChronic: In medicine, lasting a long time. A chronic condition is one that lasts 3 months ... See the entire definition of ChronicCirculation: In medicine, the movement of fluid through the body in a regular or circuitou... See the entire definition of CirculationComa: A state of deep, unarousable unconsciousness. A coma may occur as a result of head t... See the entire definition of ComaComplication: In medicine, an unanticipated problem that arises following, and is a result... See the entire definition of ComplicationCompress: Cloth or another material applied under pressure to an area of the skin and held... See the entire definition of CompressComputerized tomography: Pictures of structures within the body created by a computer that... See the entire definition of Computerized tomographyConcussion: A traumatic injury to soft tissue, usually the brain, as a result of a violent... See the entire definition of ConcussionContusion: Another name for a bruise. What is a bruise ? A bruise, or contusion, is caused... See the entire definition of ContusionCortex: The outer layer of any organ. CT scan: Computerized tomography scan. Pictures of structures within the body created by a... See the entire definition of CT scanDiagnosis: 1 The nature of a disease; the identification of an illness. 2 A ... See the entire definition of DiagnosisDura: The outermost, toughest, and most fibrous of the three membranes (meninges) covering... See the entire definition of DuraEar: The hearing organ. There are three sections of the ear, according to the anatomy tex... See the entire definition of EarEdema: The swelling of soft tissues as a result of excess fluid accumulation. Edema is oft... See the entire definition of EdemaEnoxaparin: A low-molecular-weight version of heparin that acts like heparin as an anticoa... See the entire definition of EnoxaparinEpidural: Outside the dura, the outermost, toughest, and most fibrous of the three membran... See the entire definition of EpiduralEpidural hematoma: A hematoma between the skull and the brain's tissue-like covering, whic... See the entire definition of Epidural hematomaFlexion: The process of bending, or the state of being bent. For example, flexion of the f... See the entire definition of FlexionFracture: A break in bone or cartilage. Although usually a result of trauma, a fracture ca... See the entire definition of FractureFrontal: In anatomy, pertaining to the forehead. As, for example, the frontal bone, fronta... See the entire definition of FrontalHead injury: Damage to any of the structures of the head as a result of trauma. While the ... See the entire definition of Head injuryHeadache: A pain in the head with the pain being above the eyes or the ears, behind the he... See the entire definition of HeadacheHeart: The muscle that pumps blood received from veins into arteries throughout the body. ... See the entire definition of HeartHematoma: A localized swelling that is filled with blood caused by a break in the wall of ... See the entire definition of HematomaHemorrhage: Bleeding or the abnormal flow of blood. Heparin: An anticoagulant (anti-clotting) medication. Heparin is useful in preventing thro... See the entire definition of HeparinInfant: A young baby, from birth to 12 months of age. Infection: The invasion and multiplication of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, an... See the entire definition of InfectionInjury: Harm or hurt. To harm, hurt, or wound. The word injure may be in physical or emot... See the entire definition of InjuryIntracranial: Within the cranium, the bony dome that houses and protects the brain. Leg: In popular usage, the part of the body from the top of the thigh down to the foot, an... See the entire definition of LegLethargy: Abnormal drowsiness, stupor. Medical history: 1. In clinical medicine, the patient's past and present which may ... See the entire definition of Medical historyMemory: 1. The ability to recover information about past events or knowledge. ... See the entire definition of MemoryMeninges: The three membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord (singular: meninx). Meningitis: Inflammation of the meninges, the three membranes that envelop the brain and t... See the entire definition of MeningitisMotor: Something that produces or refers to motion. For example, a motor neuron is a nerve... See the entire definition of MotorMouth: 1. The upper opening of the digestive tract, beginning with the lips and con... See the entire definition of MouthNausea: Stomach queasiness, the urge to vomit. Nausea can be brought on by many causes, in... See the entire definition of NauseaNeck: The part of the body joining the head to the shoulders. Also, any narrow or constric... See the entire definition of NeckNerve: A bundle of fibers that uses electrical and chemical signals to transmit sensory an... See the entire definition of NerveNose: The external midline projection from the face. The purpose of the nose is to warm, c... See the entire definition of NoseNurse: 1) A person trained, licensed, or skilled in nursing. 2) To feed an infant at the ... See the entire definition of NurseOccipital: 1. Pertaining to the occiput, the back of head. Occipital bone: The bone that forms the rear and rear bottom of the skull. Open fracture: A fracture in which the bone is sticking through the skin. Also called a co... See the entire definition of Open fractureOperation: In medicine, a surgical procedure. Many operations are named after persons. The... See the entire definition of OperationPain: An unpleasant sensation that can range from mild, localized discomfort to agony. Pa... See the entire definition of PainParietal: Adjective from the Latin "parietalis" meaning "belonging to the wall" that the a... See the entire definition of ParietalPediatrics: The field of medicine that is concerned with the health of infants, children, ... See the entire definition of PediatricsPrescription: A physician's order for the preparation and administration of a drug or dev... See the entire definition of PrescriptionPrimary care: A patient's main source for regular medical care, ideally providing continui... See the entire definition of Primary carePrognosis: The forecast of the probable outcome or course of a disease; the patient's chan... See the entire definition of PrognosisResuscitation: The procedure of restoring to life, as in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CP... See the entire definition of ResuscitationScan: As a noun, the data or image obtained from the examination of organs or regions of... See the entire definition of ScanSeizure: Uncontrolled electrical activity in the brain, which may produce a physical conv... See the entire definition of SeizureSensation: In medicine and physiology, sensation refers to the registration of an incoming... See the entire definition of SensationShock: In medicine, a critical condition that is brought on by a sudden drop in blood flow... See the entire definition of ShockShort-term memory: A system for temporarily storing and managing information required to ... See the entire definition of Short-term memorySkull: The skull is a collection of bones which encase the brain and give form to the hea... See the entire definition of SkullSleep: The body's rest cycle. Spinal cord: The major column of nerve tissue that is connected to the brain and lies with... See the entire definition of Spinal cordSpinal cord injury: Trauma or damage to the spinal cord, the major column of nerve tissue ... See the entire definition of Spinal cord injuryStroke: The sudden death of brain cells due to lack of oxygen, caused by blockage of blood... See the entire definition of StrokeSubarachnoid: Literally, beneath the arachnoid, the middle of three membranes that cover t... See the entire definition of SubarachnoidSubarachnoid hemorrhage: A bleeding into the subarachnoid, the space between the arachnoid... See the entire definition of Subarachnoid hemorrhageSubdural: Below the dura, the outermost, toughest, and most fibrous of the three membranes... See the entire definition of SubduralSubdural hematoma: Bleeding into the space between the dura (the brain cover) and the brai... See the entire definition of Subdural hematomaSurgery: The branch of medicine that employs operations in the treatment of disease or inj... See the entire definition of SurgerySuture: 1. A type of joint between the bones of the skull where the bones are held ... See the entire definition of SutureSymptom: Any subjective evidence of disease. In contrast, a sign is objective. Blood comin... See the entire definition of SymptomTear: A drop of the salty secretion of the lacrimal glands which serves to moisten the con... See the entire definition of TearTemporal: 1. Pertaining to time, limited in time, temporary, or transient. Temporal bone: A large irregular bone that is situated at the base and side of the skull. ... See the entire definition of Temporal boneTomography: The process for generating a tomogram, a two-dimensional image of a slice or s... See the entire definition of TomographyTrauma: A physical or emotional injury. Traumatic brain injury: Brain damage from trauma. The three leading causes of death from t... See the entire definition of Traumatic brain injuryUnconscious: 1. Interruption of awareness of oneself and one's surroundings, lack ... See the entire definition of UnconsciousVessel: A tube in the body that carries fluids. Examples of vessels are blood vessels and ... See the entire definition of VesselWarfarin: An anticoagulant drug (brand names: Coumarin, Panwarfin, Sofarin) taken to prev... See the entire definition of WarfarinX-ray: High-energy radiation with waves shorter than those of visible light. X-ray is used... See the entire definition of X-ray
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