Brain Term Glossary

When learning about brain injuries, or any type of medical problem, you can expect to run into some medical terms that you might not be familiar with. Here are some common terms and definitions, with respect to brain injuries.

  • Anoxia: The cutting off of oxygen to the brain; a cause of brain cell death
  • Concussion: A form of mild traumatic brain injury; commonly caused by sports accidents and falls; can usually be fully recovered from
  • Edema: Swelling in the brain caused by excess fluid in the tissue; can stop blood flow to brain cells and cause cell death
  • Hematoma: A buildup of excess blood in the brain; can exert pressure and cause cell death
  • Hemorrhage: Excess bleeding; in the brain, it can be a cause of stroke
  • Stroke: A brain injury caused by a lack of blood to the brain; can be caused by a blood clot or a burst blood vessel in the brain
  • Traumatic Brain Injury: A brain injury caused by a sudden blow or force to the head; commonly caused by falls, car accidents, and being struck with an object
  • Tumor: An abnormal growth of cells, which may be cancerous or benign. Tumors in the brain can exert pressure on surrounding tissue and cause impairment of function

Article Source: