University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign



TBI glossaryAnoxiaFor various reasons, tissue in the brain may not receive any oxygen. When this occurs, brain cells begin to die and anoxic brain injury is the result. If the brain is receiving oxygen, but is deprived of adequate amounts, this is called Hypoxia.Arachnoid LayerThe middle layer of the meninges between the dura mater and pia. The arachnoid layer resembles a spider web; its porous structure lets cerebrospinal fluid flow through it. The space between arachnoid layer and dura mater is called the subdural space.Basal GangliaBasal ganglia is a group of brain structures, including the globus pallidus, caudate nucleus, and putamen. Basal ganglia structures are very important for behavior switching, control of voluntary movements, and establishment of postures. Disorders of basal ganglia include Parkinson's disease and Huntington disease.Blood Pressure CuffAlso called a sphygmomanometer, a blood pressure cuff measures the pressure of blood flowing through arteries in the body. When gathering information on a patient, two pressures are checked: a systolic blood pressure (the pressure of the blood as the heart muscle contracts) and a diastolic pressure (the pressure of the blood when the heart is relaxed). Normal adult blood pressure is between 90-120 mmHg for systolic and 60-80 mmHg for diastolic.Blunt Head InjuryClosed head traumaBone DrillA bone drill is a device used by surgeons to create holes in the skull to relieve intracranial pressure or to create holes for surgical pins and screws. It is made of surgical-grade materials and does not adversely affect the open wound.BrainstemLocated at the lower (ventral), back (posterior) part of the brain. It connects the brain with the spinal cord and is continuous with the spinal cord. The brainstem is extremely important as all motor and sensory nerve connections from the brain to the rest of the body go through the brainstem. The cranial nerves are located at the brainstem, and they allow the sensory and motor innervation of the muscles of the face, neck, tongue, and the vocal cords. The brainstem is crucial in regulation of the respiratory and cardiac functions, sleep cycle and maintaining of consciousness. The brainstem includes the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata.Broca's AreaLocated in the left posterior inferior frontal gyrus. Identified by a neurosurgeon Paul Broca following his patient Mr. Tan. Mr. Tan's true identity is unknown; he was called "Tan" by the workers at the hospital because "tan" was the only thing he ever said (as he was suffering from severe Broca's aphasia, which is characterized by very limited verbal production). When he died in 1861, Broca dissected Mr. Tan's brain and found a tumor in the left hemisphere (which resulted in the expressive aphasia). After observing this fact in subsequent autopsies of people suffering from similar type of aphasia, Paul Broca concluded that "the faculty for articulate language" was processed in the left hemisphere of the brain. Broca's area is involved in language output, or the production of words.CerebellumCerebellum is a fist-sized structure located at the lower back of the brain; dorsal to the pons and inferior to the occipital lobe. The cerebellum is crucial in motor control and is responsible for coordination, precision, and timing of motor activity. Due to its location, the cerebellum is better protected against injury and trauma than the frontal, occipital lobes and the brainstem.Cerebral AqueductCerebral aqueduct is a narrow canal or passage located in the midbrain. It connects the third and the fourth ventricles of the ventricular system.Cerebral ContusionA form of brain injury that causes bruising of the brain tissue. Contusions may be in the form of scattered areas of bleeding on the surface of the brain. Contusions are most commonly found along the undersurface and poles of the frontal and temporal lobes where the brain strikes a ridge on the skull or a fold in the dura mater, the brain’s tough outer covering.Cerebral CortexThe outer layer of the brain (1.5 to 5 mm) that covers the cerebrum. This layer of the brain is often referred to as gray matter as the nerves in this area lack insulation (myelin sheath) that makes most other parts of the brain seem to be white. It is responsible for many "higher-order" functions like language and information puter-Aided Tomography (CT)Also known as Computed-tomography or Computerized Axial tomography and more commonly known by its abbreviated names: CT scan or CAT scan. A large donut-shaped x-ray machine takes x-ray images at many different angles around the body. A computer processes these images to produce cross-sectional pictures of the body.ContusionA brain contusion is basically bruising of the tissue in the brain caused by leaks in blood vessels.Coronal SectionA?section?of the body which is cut in the plane of the?coronal?suture or parallel to it. Sectioning in the coronal plane results in an anterior and a posterior portion.Corpus CallosumThe corpus callosum is a wide, thick bundle of nerve fibers located at the center of the brain, connecting the left and the right cerebral hemispheres. It is the largest white matter structure in the brain and is very important for inter-hemispheric communication.Coup Countrecoup(Pronounced “koo kon-truh-koo”) Also known as acceleration/deceleration injury and is a pattern of traumatic brain injury. Coup refers to the injury at the site of an impact to the head, and countrecoup refers to the injury at the opposing side of the brain. This pattern is seen when an impact or violent motion brings the head to a sudden stop, causing the brain to slam into the skull.Diffuse Axonal InjuryThis is not localized to a specific area in the brain, but instead occurs over a larger area. When the brain moves back and forth, nerve cells get damaged and are no longer able to communicate with one another. Multiple complications and additional injuries in the brain can result from a diffuse axonal injury.Dura MaterThe outermost layer of the meninges. The dura mater is a tough membrane covering the brain and the spinal cord and is responsible for containing the cerebrospinal fluid.Ear ThermometerWhile there are many places that a patient's body temperature can be measured, some locations are more accurate than others. Ear thermometers are able to measure the amount of infrared radiation (heat energy) given off by the eardrum without touching it. Normal human body temperature is around 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius).Emergency Medical TechnicianEmergency medical technicians (EMTs) are medical professionals that are trained to respond to emergency calls. Working as part of an ambulance team, search and rescue squad, or fire department, EMTs are often the first to arrive at the scene of a medical emergency. EMTs are trained to quickly assess a patient's condition at the scene of the accident and transport them quickly and safely to the nearest medical facility.Epidural HematomaA type of brain injury when the blood builds up between the dura mater (the outer membrane of the brain) and the skull. This may increase pressure in the skull and press on delicate brain tissue. On images produced by CT scans and MRIs, epidural hematomas usually appear convex in shape.Frontal LobeA part of the brain (on both hemispheres) located in the front. Among the many functions of the frontal lobe are executive functions such as attention, short-term memory tasks, planning, and drive.GauzeUsually made of cotton, gauze is a type of bandage (or dressing) that is used to loosely wrap an injury or to hold other bandages in place. Some modern gauze has a plastic film on one side to prevent it from sticking to a wound.Gigli SawA gigli saw is a flexible wire saw used by surgeons to cut bones.Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)The Glasgow Coma Scale or GCS is used for medical diagnostics and was developed in 1974 at the University of Glasgow. The scale was developed as a way to reliably record the conscious sate of a patient who has received an injury to the brain. The GCS consists of a scale from 1 to 5 in three areas: Eyes, Verbal, and Motor. Depending on the score a patient gets in each area, they are classified as having either mild, moderate, or severe brain injury. The lowest score is a 3, which indicates that the patient is in a state of deep unconsciousness. On the opposite end of the scale is a 15, which indicates that the patient is fully awake. GyriA gyrus (singular) refers to a natural ridge (between sulci [plural]) in the brain.HippocampusThe hippocampus is a structure that looks like a seahorse; "hippocampus" literally means "horse" and "sea monster" in Greek. It is a limbic system structure located within the temporal lobes, next to the amygdala. The hippocampus is a very important structure for formation of new memories and connecting emotions and senses, such as smell and sound, to memories. It is also known to be responsible for spatial orientation and navigation.HematomaThis is a localized accumulation of blood on the brain.HerniationIf the ICP increases too much, then the brain tissue moves from its usual location and gets forced through a hole in the skull.Intracranial Pressure (ICP)The pressure inside the skull. Severe head injuries (along with various other conditions) can increase this pressure when bleeding or swelling of the brain occurs. Intensive Care Unit (ICU)A specialized section of the hospital where patients who are critically ill receive intensive, comprehensive and continuous treatment.Ischemia This occurs when there is an insufficient blood supply going to the brain and can result in damaged tissue.Lateral VentriclesThe two lateral ventricles make up the largest ventricle in the ventricular system of the brain. Located on each side of the brain, they consist of a central part, with anterior, posterior and inferior horns. They provide a pathway for the circulation of the cerebrospinal fluid, protecting the head from trauma.Longitudinal FissureThe deep groove that separates the two hemispheres of the brain.Mammillary BodiesTwo small, round masses of gray matter at the ventral side of the brain. Mammillary bodies are part of the limbic system and they act as a relay station for the nerve impulses that come from the hippocampus and amygdala to the thalamus.Medevac HelicopterWhile motor vehicle ambulances are the most common way medical technicians reach the scene of an emergency, sometimes accidents happen where an ambulance would be too slow or unable to reach the patient. In these cases medevac (medical evacuation) helicopters are used to gain access to the scene of an emergency and transport the patient to the nearest hospital. Medevac helicopters have most of the same equipment as a standard ambulance and can travel up to twice as fast. Many hospital emergency rooms have a helicopter landing pad on the roof of the building so that patients can be easily loaded on and off a helicopter right at the hospital.Medical ResidentAfter a physician finishes medical school and an internship, she or he starts their "residency" where they receive training in specialized areas such as surgery, emergency medicine, etc.MedullaThe lowest part of the brainstem. The medulla is connected to the midbrain by the pons. Posteriorly, it is continuous with the spinal cord. Medulla is responsible for functional control of autonomic nervous activity, heart rate, respiration, digestive processes, arousal, and sleep. Injury to the medulla may produce several life threatening complications including paralysis, loss of pain and temperature senses, difficulty swallowing, loss of coordination.MeningesThe three thin layers of protective tissue that cover the brain and the spinal cord. The three membranes are dura mater, arachnoid layer, and pia mater.Mild Brain InjuryThis is the least severe type of Traumatic Brain Injury. Often known as concussion or mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI). It is caused by a blow to the head that disrupts the function of the brain. MTBI is typically associated with normal structural neuroimaging findings (i.e., CT scan, MRI). However, it results in physical, cognitive, emotional and/or sleep-related symptoms and may or may not involve a loss of consciousness which may last from a few seconds to 30 minutes. Severe complications such as hematomas are not associated with this type of injury. Patients with mild brain injury have a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) of 13-15.Moderate Brain InjuryPatients have a loss of consciousness that could last from several minutes to a few hours. Then for a few days or weeks, they are confused and disoriented. While it is not always the case, Moderate Brain Injury can include complications such as contusions on the brain. Patients in this category have a GCS of 9-12. Occipital LobeA part of the brain (on both hemispheres) located at the back of the brain, below the parietal lobes. The occipital lobes are the center of our visual perception system.Olfactory BulbA structure located in the ventral (inferior) part of the brain. The olfactory bulb is a part of the limbic system and is responsible for the sense of smell. The olfactory bulb receives signals from the odor receptor cells located in the nose and transmits these signals to the different locations in the brain. Understandably, the olfactory bulb is relatively large in animals with a strong sense of smell.Optic ChiasmOptic chiasm refers to the "X" shaped structure located at the ventral (inferior) side of the brain, where half of the axons in each optic nerve cross the midline to enter the opposite side of the optic tract. The optic chiasm is a very important structure for the sense of sight.Optic tractOptic tract refers to the part of the optic pathway from the optic chiasm to the lateral geniculate nucleus of the thalamus. Information from the right visual field is transmitted in the left optic tract and from the left visual field to the right optic tract. Each optic tract terminates in the lateral geniculate nucleus of the thalamus. (Note: nerves represent axon bundles that are found in the peripheral nervous system and tracts are axon bundles running in the central nervous system.)Parietal LobeA part of the brain located posterior to the frontal lobe, separated by central sulcus, and in front of the occipital lobe. The main functions are sensation, perception and integration of sensory input, primarily with the visual system.Penetrating Head InjuryOpen head trauma.PenlightThis small pen-shaped flashlight is typically used by medical professionals to illuminate a patient's throat, nose, and ears, as well as to check for the response of pupils to bright light.Pia MaterMeans "tender mother" and is the innermost layer of the meninges. The pia mater is a very delicate and elastic membrane that covers the brain and the spinal cord. The pia mater follows all the grooves of the brain and contains blood vessels that nourish the brain. The space between the pia mater and the arachnoid layer is known as the subarachnoid space. Subarachnoid hemorrhage occurs when the head injury results in bleeding in this space.PonsMiddle part of the brainstem. The word pons means "bridge" and the pons is in fact a bridge between the midbrain and the medulla. The pons is responsible for the transfer of nerve signals from the cerebrum down to the cerebellum and the medulla. Cerebellar peduncles are the posterior structures of the pons, which connect cerebellum to the pons and the midbrain.ScalpelAlso known as lancet, a scalpel is an instrument used for surgery. It is small with an extremely sharp blade and is used for anatomical dissections.Severe Brain InjurySevere brain injury can occur when the brain does not receive oxygen, when the head suddenly and violently hits or is hit by an object, when an object pierces the skull and invades brain tissue, or when a sudden, violent stop or start causes the brain to knock against the interior of the skull. This category of Traumatic Brain Injury is used to describe injuries that have resulted in unconsciousness or coma for an extended period of time (days, weeks or longer). Other complications do occur, including hematomas, contusions, nerve fiber damage, and/or anoxia. Patients in this category have a GCS of 8 or less. StethoscopeModern stethoscopes are simple devices that enable a medical professional to listen to internal body sounds. Acoustic stethoscopes, the most common kind, use a plastic disc and hollow tubes to carry sound to the listener. More advanced electronic stethoscopes can amplify and record internal body sounds.Subdural HematomaA type of brain injury when the blood builds up between the dura mater (the outer membrane of the brain) and the arachnoid layer (middle membrane of the meninges). On a CT scan, subdural hematoma crosses the cranial sutures but not the dura mater. It appears as a sickle shape, and crosses sutures but does not cross the midline.SulciA sulcus (singular) is also known as a fissure. It refers to the natural folds or depressions in the brain.Temporal LobeA part of the brain (on both hemispheres) located below the lateral sulcus, which separates it from parietal and frontal lobes. Among the many functions of the temporal lobe are processing of hearing, language and senses such as temperature, taste, etc.Third VentricleOne of the four fluid-filled cavities in the ventricular system, the third ventricle is located between the two thalami. Anteriorly, the third-ventricle communicates with the lateral ventricles through the interventricular opening. Posteriorly, it communicates with the fourth ventricle through cerebral aqueduct.Transverse SectionAlso known as axial section. It is an anatomical section which means to cut a sample horizontally.Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)A damage to the brain as the result of an injury typically caused by an external mechanical force, possibly leading to permanent or temporary impairment of cognitive, physical, and psychosocial functions. It often results in a diminished or altered state of consciousness.Wernicke's AreaWernicke's area is an important language center located in the left hemisphere of the brain. While the precise location of the Wernicke's area is not very clear, it is known to be located around the lateral sulcus (Sylvian Fissure), posterior section of the superior temporal gyrus. This area was discovered by Carl Wernicke, a German neurologist, who observed that people with lesions at this location could speak, but their speech was often incoherent and made no sense. Wernicke's area is responsible for processing of language input (words that we hear). Broca's area and Wernicke's area are connected by a large bundle of nerve fibers called the arcuate fasciculus.Resources: , , , , and Nolte, J. (2008) The Human Brain: An Introduction to its Functional Anatomy. 6th Edition.?Elsevier - Health Sciences Division, United States. ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download