Caregivers Conference: A PRN meeting to
do more focused treatment planning and problem solving for individuals with
acquired brain injury. Anyone on the treatment team can call for a caregiver
conference. Sometimes problems and issues exist in only one therapy.
However, that particular problem is not just that therapist's issue; it is a
team issue which must be addressed accordingly.
Catheter: A tube which is inserted into any body part to withdraw or
introduce fluids.
Cerebellum: A portion of the brain that occupies a position in
posterior (i.e. back) of the brainstem. It has a left and right hemisphere
as well as median lobe called the vermis. It regulates motor coordination
and has been implicated in cognitive functions such as complex attention and
procedural learning.
Cerebral Angiogram: An X-ray picture of the blood vessels inside the
head. A drug is injected via the groin artery to outline these cerebral
vessels.
Cerebral Cortex: The largest part of the brain. It controls thought
processes (such as memory and learning) and motor functions (such as
walking).
Cerebral: Concerning the brain.
Cerebrum: The largest part of the brain; controls voluntary or willed
movement and the ability to create rational thought. Such capabilities are
only possessed by human beings. The cerebrum is made up of frontal,
temporal, parietal and occipital lobes divided into halves.
Closed Head Injury: An injury that occurs when the head suddenly and
violently hits an object, but the object does not break through the skull.
Cognition: The mental process or faculty of knowing; may be simple or
complex, and includes psychological (past/present) cognitive and
physiological medical/neurological factors.
Cognitive Retraining Rehab: Therapeutic intervention aimed at facilitating
the recovery of mental skills disrupted as a result of brain injury.
Coma: Long periods of unconsciousness. The depth may vary from no response
to stimulation to a slight awakening. Depth and length often affect the
quality of recovery.
Compressive Cranial Neuropathies: Degeneration of nerves in the brain caused
by pressure on those nerves.
Computed Tomography (CT): A scan that creates a series of crosssectional
X-rays of the head and brain; may also be called a computerized axial
tomography or CAT scan.
Concussion: Injury to the brain caused by a hard blow or violent shaking,
causing a sudden and temporary impairment of brain function, such as a short
loss of consciousness or disturbance of vision and equilibrium.
Contrecoup: A contusion caused by the shaking of the brain back and forth
within the confines of the skull.
Contusion: Distinct area of swollen brain tissue mixed with blood released
from broken blood vessels.
Corpus Callosum: The band of commissural fibers which connects the two
hemispheres of the brain and allows for rapid and effective interhemisphere
communication.
Cortex: The outer convoluted surface of the brain that is composed of nerve
cell bodies and their synaptic connections. It is the highest and most
complexly organized center of the brain. The cortex is typically divided
into four main lobes: frontal, temporal, parietal and occipital.
Cortical Dysplasia: An abnormality in the growth, size and/or shape of
cells.
Coup-Contrecoup: When the brain is hit with sufficient force, it will
"bounce" against the opposite side of the skull causing injury to both the
site of impact (coup) and the part of the brain opposite the impact (contrecoup).
Cranial Nerves: 12 pairs of nerves which have their origin in the brain
stem.
Craniotomy: Surgical removal of the skull in small pieces.
Cranium: The bony skull which completely engulfs the brain to protect it.
CSF Fistula: A tear between two of the three membranes - the dura and
arachnoid membranes - that encase the brain.
