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| Brain Injury | Glasgow Coma Scale | Rancho Los Amigos Scale | Glossary |
|---|
The Brain
The brain is often referred to as a “three pound universe” because it is a very complex organ that regulates every aspect of the human body. The brain is the command center of the human body’s actions and functions. It controls a person’s ability to accomplish every day tasks such as moving, breathing, thinking, speaking, hearing, feeling, smelling, and writing.
Anatomy of the Brain
The brain is comprised of three areas: the brain stem, the cerebellum, and the cortex. The brainstem connects the brain to the spinal cord and controls consciousness, arousal, and vital functions such as breathing, blood pressure and pulse rate. The cerebellum is the portion of the brain that helps coordinate movement. The largest area of the brain is the cortex, where most of the thinking functions occur.
The cortex is divided into four lobes: the frontal lobe, the parietal lobe, the temporal lobe, and the occipital lobe. Each lobe performs a specialized function. The frontal lobe is responsible for functions such as personality, emotions, problem solving, and reasoning. The parietal lobe is responsible for the sensory functions. The temporal lobe handles the speech, language, and hearing functions, while the occipital lobe handles the vision functions.
Furthermore, the cortex is divided into hemispheres, or halves. Generally, the left is the dominant hemisphere which controls the verbal functions such as speaking, writing, reading, and calculating. The right hemisphere controls visual functions such as memory, drawing, and copying.
Traumatic Brain Injury
A traumatic brain injury (TBI), also referred to as an acquired brain injury or simply head injury, occurs when a sudden trauma causes damage to the brain.1 TBI can be caused by a blow or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury that disrupts the function of the brain.2
TBIs account for a significant number of death and cases of permanent disability. Each year, TBI affects approximately 1.4 million people in the United States. Of those 1.4 million, approximately 50,000 cases result in death, 235,000 are hospitalized, and 1.1 million are treated and released. In children aged 0 to 14 years, TBI accounts for approximately 2685 deaths, 37,000 hospitalizations, and 435,000 emergency room visits annually.
The leading causes of TBI are falls, motor vehicle accidents, struck by/against events, and assaults. Falls are the leading cause of TBI, children and the elderly being the group most affected.
