Resources | GLOSSARY
MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY RELATED TO BRAIN INJURY
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| Agraphia |
Inability to express thoughts in writing |
| Alexia |
Inability to read |
| Amnesia |
Lack of memory about events occuring during a particular period of time |
| Aneurysm |
A balloon-like deformity in the wall of a blood vessel. The wall weakens as the balloon grows larger, and may eventually burst, causing a hemorrhage |
| Anomia |
Inability to recall names of objects. Persons with this problem often can speak fluently but have to use other words to describe familiar objects |
| Anoxia |
Lack of oxygen. Cells of the brain need oxygen to stay alive. When blood flow to the brain is reduced or when oxygen in the blood is too low, brain cells are damaged |
| Arousal |
Being awake. Primitive state of alertness managed by the reticular activating system (extending from medulla to the thalamus in the core of the brain stem) activating the cortex. Cognition is not possible |
| Anterograde Amnesia |
Inability to consolidate information about ongoing events. Difficulty with new learning |
| Anticonvulsant |
Medication used to decrease the possibility of a seizure (e.g. Dilantin, Phenobarbital, Mysoline, Tegretol) |
| Antidepressants |
Medication used to treat depression |
| Aphasia |
Loss of the ability to express oneself and/or to understand language. Caused by damage to brain cells rather than deficits in speech or hearing organs and lobes |
| Apraxia |
Inability to carry out a complex or skilled movement; not due to paralysis, sensory changes, or deficiencies in understanding |
| Articulation |
Movement of the lips, tongue, teeth and palate into specific patterns for purpose of speech. Also a movable joint. |
| Astereognosia |
Inability to recognize things by touch |
| Ataxia |
A problem of muscle coordination not due to apraxia, weakness, rigidity, spasticity or sensory loss. Caused by lesion of the cerebellum or basal ganglia. Can interfere with a person's ability to walk, talk, eat, and to perform other self care tasks. |
| ADL |
Activities of daily living. Routine activities carried out for personal hygiene and health (including bathing, dressing, feeding) and for operating a household. |
| Cognition |
The conscious process of knowing or being aware of thoughts or perceptions, including understanding and reasoning. |
| Concussion |
The common result of a blow to the head or sudden deceleration usually causing an altered mental state, either temporary or prolonged. Physiologic and/or anatomic disruption of conncetions between some nerve cells in the brain may occur. Often used by the public to refer to a brief loss of consciousness |
| Dysphagia |
A swallowing disorder characterized by difficulty in oral preparation for the swallow, or in moving material from the mouth to the stomach. This also includes problems in positioning food in the mouth. |
| Edema |
Collection of fluid in the tissue causing swelling. |
| GI Tube |
A tube inserted through a surgical opening into the stomach. It is used to introduce liquids, food, or medication into the stomach when the patient is unable to take these substances by mouth. |
| Incontinent |
Inability to control bowel and bladder functions. Many people who are incontinent can become continent with training. |
| Intracranial Pressure (ICP) |
Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) pressure measured from a needle or bolt introduced into the CSF space surrounding the brain. It reflects the pressure inside of the skull. |
