Head Injury & TBI

Vocabulary flashcards focused on head injuries and traumatic brain injury mechanisms, classifications, and symptoms.

Head Injury

Any trauma to the head, which can affect the scalp, skull, or brain.

TBI

Traumatic Brain Injury; an injury caused by trauma to the head.

Scalp Injury

Damage to the skin and soft tissues covering the skull.

Cranial Injury

Injury to the skull, which may include skull fractures.

Basilar Skull Fracture

A fracture at the base of the skull, often associated with serious complications.

Battle’s Sign

Bruising behind the ears, indicative of a basilar skull fracture.

Raccoon Eyes

Periorbital ecchymosis that resembles a raccoon, often seen in skull fractures.

Coup-Contrecoup Injury

Injury where damage occurs at the site of impact and on the opposite side of the brain.

Cerebral Contusion

Bruising of the brain tissue due to capillary bleeding.

Epidural Hematoma

Bleeding between the dura mater and skull; often arterial in origin.

Subdural Hematoma

Bleeding beneath the dura mater that may present later after the injury.

Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Bleeding within the brain tissue due to ruptured blood vessels.

Diffuse Axonal Injury

Injury caused by shearing or tearing of nerve fibers in the brain.

Cerebral Infarct

Areas of brain tissue that have died due to impaired blood flow.

Cheyne-Stokes Respiration

A breathing pattern characterized by cycles of increasing and decreasing volumes.

Cushing’s Reflex

A physiological response of increased blood pressure and decreased heart rate due to brain injury.

Cerebral Herniation Syndrome

A condition involving increased intracranial pressure that forces brain tissue downward.

Level of Consciousness

A measure of awareness and responsiveness to stimuli.

Pupil Dilation

Enlargement of the pupil, often indicating neurological impairment.

Decerebrate Posturing

Abnormal body posture indicative of severe brain injury, characterized by extended arms and legs.

Direct Injury

Immediate harm experienced due to the initial trauma.

Indirect Injury

Secondary harm that occurs as a consequence of the primary injury.

Acceleration Injury

An injury resulting from rapid acceleration forces applied to the body.

Deceleration Injury

An injury resulting from sudden stopping or slowing down.

Penetrating Injury

An injury caused by an object piercing the skull and possibly damaging the brain.

Respiratory Patterns

Variations in breathing that can indicate neurological status.

Skull Fracture

A break in the skull bone often resulting from blunt force trauma.