Insights, Details and Definitions
Our glossary and in-depth guides for brain injury terms can help you better understand brain trauma and head injuries in sports.
A
Acquired Brain Injury
Acquired brain injury (ABI) is any type of brain damage that occurs after birth and is not hereditary, congenital, or degenerative.
ABI can have a profound impact on a person’s physical, cognitive, and emotional functioning, and the effects can vary widely depending on the severity and location of the injury.
ABI symptoms include:
- Cognitive: memory loss, attention and concentration problems.
- Physical: headache, fatigue, dizziness and seizures.
- Sensory: changes in vision, hearing, touch and taste.
- Emotional and behavioural: depression, anxiety, irritability, aggression, and impulsiveness.
- Communication: difficulty with speaking, writing, and understanding speech.
Acute care
Acute care refers to medical treatment and support provided to patients with sudden, severe, and often life-threatening illnesses or injuries. It is designed to stabilise the patient’s condition, diagnose and treat the underlying problem, and manage any immediate and potentially life-threatening symptoms.
ADL
ADL stands for “Activities of Daily Living”. These are the basic tasks and functions necessary for a person to live independently and care for themselves. They include bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, and transferring (getting in and out of bed or a chair).
ADLs are commonly used as a measure of a person’s functional status and independence and are often considered when evaluating a person’s ability to live on their own or determining the level of care required.
Aneurysm
An aneurysm is a bulging or ballooning of a portion of a blood vessel caused by a weakness in the vessel wall. It can occur in any blood vessel in the body, but most commonly occurs in the aorta and in the brain.
Ruptured aneurysms can lead to severe bleeding and can be life-threatening, especially when in the brain. They are diagnosed by CT scans, MRI scans, and angiograms.
Apraxia
Apraxia is a neurological condition that affects an individual’s ability to execute voluntary movements. It can be caused by conditions including stroke, neurodegenerative disease and injury or damage. It is often caused by damage to the parts of the brain that control movement and coordination, such as the basal ganglia and the cerebellum.
There are different types of apraxia, each affecting a specific aspect of movement control. Common forms include:
1. Ideational apraxia: difficulty planning or initiating movements.
2. Ideomotor apraxia: difficulty executing movements in response to verbal commands or gestures.
3. Limb-kinetic apraxia: difficulty with fine motor movements, such as writing or buttoning a shirt.
4. Verbal apraxia: difficulty speaking and forming words.
The severity and type of apraxia can vary greatly. Treatment options may include physical therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy, as well as medications.
Atrophy
Atrophy refers to a decrease in the size or volume of a tissue or an organ due to the loss of cells. Brain atrophy can occur as a result of ageing, neurodegenerative diseases, or other conditions that affect brain structure and function.
Axon
The axon is a long, slender fibre, several times thinner than human hair. It extends from the cell body of a neuron and carries nerve impulses and electrical signals to other neurons. This is critical for the transmission of information in the nervous system.
B
Bilateral
In regards to the brain, bilateral refers to the involvement of both the right and left hemispheres.
Blood-brain barrier
A protective membrane that separates the blood circulating in the body from the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord (cerebrospinal fluid). This barrier prevents certain substances from crossing from the bloodstream into the brain and vice versa. It is vital in protecting the brain from harmful substances in the bloodstream.
Brain plasticity
Brain plasticity, also known as neuroplasticity, is the brain’s ability to adapt in response to experience, injury, or disease. It allows the brain to learn new information, form new memories, and recover. Plasticity may decline with age, and is influenced by factors including genetics and environment. Brain plasticity occurs in two main ways: 1. Structural plasticity: physical changes, such as new connections between neurons. This is crucial for learning and memory. 2. Functional plasticity: changes in how brain regions work together to perform tasks or respond to stimuli, such as the strength or speed of connections between neurons. This is crucial for learning, skill acquisition, and recovery from brain injuries or diseases.
Brain scan
A brain scan, also known as neuroimaging, provides detailed images of the structures and functions of the brain. They are used to diagnose brain conditions, such as tumours, strokes, and degenerative diseases, and monitoring the effectiveness of treatments for these conditions. They are also used to better understand how the brain works and to develop new treatments for brain-related conditions. Types of brain scans include MRI scans, CT scans and PET scans.
Brain stem
This connects the cerebral cortex to the spinal cord. It helps control basic functions, such as breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure and is composed of three main regions: the midbrain, the pons, and the medulla oblongata. Brainstem damage can result in serious medical conditions, including coma, locked-in syndrome, and death.
C
Cerebellum
The cerebellum is a region of the brain located at the base of the skull. It is responsible for coordinating movement and balance, as well as playing a role in some cognitive functions such as attention, language, and emotion.
Cerebrospinal fluid or cerebral-spinal fluid
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a clear, colourless liquid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. It is produced in the ventricles of the brain and acts as a cushion, protecting the brain and spinal cord from injury. The fluid also provides nutrients and removes waste products from the central nervous system.
Chronic
The term “chronic” is used to describe a medical condition or disease that persists or progresses over a long period of time, typically several months or longer.
Closed head injury
A closed head injury is a traumatic brain injury that occurs when the head sustains a blow or jolt but the skull remains intact, as opposed to an open-head injury where the skull is fractured.
Cognition
The mental processes and activities related to acquiring, processing, storing, and using information. It encompasses a wide range of abilities, including perception, attention, memory, language, problem-solving, decision-making, and reasoning.
Coma
A coma is a state of unconsciousness in which a person is unable to move, speak, open their eyes or respond to their environment, and may have difficulty breathing. It can be both temporary and permanent.
Concussion, also known as “mild” Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI), is caused by a single impact to the head and body which temporarily impairs brain function. This impact creates abnormally strong rotational forces in the brain, causing damage to brain nerve cells and the shearing of brain cells.
Contrecoup
Contrecoup is a type of brain injury that occurs when the brain is violently jolted as a result of a traumatic event, such as a fall. In contrecoup injury, the impact force is transmitted to the brain tissue on the opposite side of the skull from the point of impact.
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is a progressive neurodegenerative condition of the brain. It is the result of repeated sub-concussions to the head. CTE symptoms include problems with mood, thinking and behaviour. They typically do not appear until years after the sustained injuries and worsen over time, leading to dementia.
CT Scan
A CT scan, or a CAT scan, uses X-rays and computer technology to create detailed images of the body. It is used to diagnose conditions including injuries, tumours, infections, and those that affect the bones, organs, and tissues.
D
DAI/ diffuse axonal injury
A DAI is a severe and traumatic brain injury that is caused when the head experiences a rapid acceleration or deceleration force that damages the axons.
Symptoms include loss of consciousness, memory problems, behaviour changes, and physical impairments. It can also result in long-term effects such as chronic headaches and mood changes.
Dementia pugilistica
Dementia Pugilistica, also known as Punch-Drunk Syndrome or Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), is a type of brain damage that occurs as a result of repeated head trauma.
Dendrites
Specialised cellular extensions of a neuron that receive signals from other neurons. They are critical in the processing and transmission of information in the nervous system, allowing communication between neurons and the rest of the body.
Depressed skull fracture
A depressed skull fracture is a skull injury that occurs when a portion of the skull is pushed inward due to a direct impact to the head.
Common symptoms of a depressed skull fracture can include:
• Headache
• Nausea and vomiting
• Loss of consciousness
• Blood or clear fluid draining from the ears or nose
E
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
An electroencephalogram (EEG) is a test that measures the electrical activity of the brain and records it as a series of wave patterns.
It can help diagnose neurological conditions including seizures, head injuries, brain tumours, and dementia.
F
Frontal lobe
The frontal lobe is a region at the front of the brain and is one of the four main lobes of the cerebral cortex. It is the largest of the brain lobes and is responsible for cognitive functions including:
• Decision-making and problem-solving
• Emotional control
• Planning and executing movements
• Speech and understanding of language
• Attention and focus
Damage can result in a range of impairments, including difficulty with the functions above.
G
Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)
The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is a clinical tool that is used to assess a person’s level of consciousness after a traumatic brain injury.
Global aphasia
Global aphasia is a type of language impairment occurring from brain damage, most commonly a stroke. It is characterised by severe difficulty in speaking, understanding speech, reading and writing.
H
Head injury
A head injury is any injury to the scalp, skull, or brain, ranging from mild to severe, including concussions, contusions and skull fractures.
Hematoma
A swelling or mass of blood that forms outside of the blood vessels, usually as a result of injury. Different types of hematomas include:
1. Intracranial Hematoma: Within the skull, causing pressure on the brain.
2. Subcutaneous Hematoma: Under the skin.
3. Intramuscular Hematoma: Within a muscle.
M
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
A non-invasive diagnostic imaging technique that uses a strong magnetic field, radio waves, and a computer to produce detailed images of internal organs and tissues. They are used to help diagnose brain bleeding, swelling, problems with how the brain has developed and brain tumours.
Medulla oblongata
Located at the bottom of the brainstem, the medulla oblongata controls important autonomic functions, such as breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure, and also serves as a relay centre for incoming and outgoing signals between the brain and the spinal cord.
Midbrain
The midbrain, located at the top of the brainstem, is responsible for controlling eye movements and coordinating the movement of the head and neck.
Motor Neurone Disease (MND)
Motor neurone disease (MND) is a progressive neurological condition that affects motor neurons, the nerve cells responsible for controlling voluntary muscle movement such as walking, speaking, swallowing, and breathing. MND is often used interchangeably with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the most common form of the disease.
Research shows that neuro-inflammation and repeated brain trauma, including rotational forces associated with repetitive head impacts in sport, may contribute to neurodegenerative processes.
N
Neuron
A neuron is a type of cell that is crucial to the nervous system. It is the basic unit of communication in the brain, as well as in the spinal cord and other parts of the nervous system. It has three main parts: the cell body, dendrites, and an axon.
Neurotransmitters
Chemical messengers are produced and released by neurons in the brain and other parts of the nervous system. They transmit information between neurons, allowing communication and coordination throughout the nervous system.
O
Occipital lobe
The occipital lobe is a brain region at the back of the head and is primarily responsible for processing visual information. It is the smallest of the four main brain lobes but is crucial for our ability to see and interpret the world around us.
P
Parietal lobe
The parietal lobe is a region of the brain located in the upper-middle part of the cerebral cortex. It plays a role in several important functions, including sensation, perception, and movement.
Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological condition that affects movement, balance, and coordination. It is caused by the gradual loss of dopamine-producing nerve cells in the brain, leading to symptoms such as tremor, muscle stiffness, slowed movement, and impaired balance.
Research indicates that repeated brain trauma, including cumulative exposure to rotational forces from head impacts, is associated with neuro-inflammatory processes linked to neurodegeneration.
Pons
Located in the middle of the brainstem, it is involved in controlling facial movements and transmitting signals between the brain and the spinal cord.
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan
This injects a small amount of radioactive material into the body to produce detailed images of the brain’s functions and metabolic activity (where glucose is being used in the brain). PET scans can help diagnose brain tumours, epilepsy, dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Post-concussion syndrome (PCS)
Post-concussion syndrome (PCS) can occur after a person sustains a concussion or a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).
Symptoms may persist for weeks, months, or even years and include:
• Headaches
• Dizziness or balance problems
• Fatigue and insomnia
• Memory problems or difficulty concentrating
• Irritability, anxiety, or depression
• Sensitivity to light and sound
R
Where the brain is rotated inside the skull from an impact to the back or side of the head. This can result in widespread brain damage, with bleeding, bruising, and swelling in the brain.
S
Second Impact Syndrome
Where an individual suffers a further concussive injury before they have made a complete recovery from an initial concussion. This causes rapid, catastrophic brain swelling. It can occur minutes, days, or weeks after an initial concussion from even the mildest impact. It is often fatal and primarily occurs in school-age children.
Seizure
A seizure is a sudden, brief episode of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Seizures can cause a wide range of symptoms, depending on the type of seizure and the part of the brain affected.
An impact that damages brain cell function, but does not produce evident signs or symptoms, and is unnoticed by individuals and those around them.
Subdural hematoma
A brain injury is typically caused by head trauma, where blood accumulates outside the brain, between the brain and the inner layer of the dura mater (the thick, outermost membrane that covers the brain).
Symptoms range from mild to severe, depending on the size and location of the blood clot, and include:
• Headache
• Dizziness or confusion
• Nausea or vomiting
• Memory loss or difficulty concentrating
• Weakness or numbness on one side of the body
• Loss of consciousness or coma
• Seizures
Subdural hygroma
A collection of clear fluid that accumulates outside the brain, between the brain and the inner layer of the dura mater, (the thick, outermost membrane that covers the brain). They typically develop after a head injury.
Symptoms can range from mild to severe, depending on the size and location of the fluid accumulation, and include:
• Headache
• Dizziness or confusion
• Nausea or vomiting
• Memory loss or difficulty concentrating
• Weakness or numbness on one side of the body
• Loss of consciousness or coma
• Seizures
T
Temporal lobes
The temporal lobes are located in the brain, on either side of the head, just above the ears. They play an important role in many key functions of the brain, including hearing, speech, memory, and emotion.
Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a type of injury to the brain that occurs as a result of a blow or jolt to the head, or a penetrating injury that damages the brain. TBI can range from mild to severe, depending on the extent of the damage to the brain.
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