Aneurysm
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.
Concussion
A violent non-penetrating injury to the brain. Sometimes accompanied by loss of consciousness.
Frontal Lobe
Front part of the brain; involved in planning, organizing, problem solving, selective attention, personality and a variety of "higher cognitive functions."
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).
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).
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.
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.
