Glossary
- Analgesics
- Pain Relievers, Fever Reducers
- Anti-Anxiety
- Medications to reduce anxiety; oftentimes SSRIs (such as Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Lexapro, and Celexa) or Benzodiazepines (like Xanax, Valium, and Ativan)
- Anti-Coagulants
- Medications, such as Heparin or Warfarin (also called Coumadin), to slow down your body's process of making clots
- Closed (or non-penetrating)
- Non-penetrating head injuries occur when there is a blow or jolt to the head, which can happen during a fall, motor vehicle accident, or sports related accident.
- Decerebrate
- Arms straighten & legs straighten
- Decorticate
- Arms bend, legs straighten
- GCS
- Glasgow Coma Scale
- Open (penetrating)
- Penetrating head injuries occur when an object enters the brain and causes damage to a specific area of the brain.
- Traumatic Impact
- A brain injury resulting from an impact; i.e., when the head is struck by or against an object.
- Traumatic Inertial
- A brain injury not caused by an impact but rather as a result of inertial forces.
- Uniform Determination of Death Act (UDDA)
- The UDDA is model legislation adopted in each state which offers two definitions for when an individual may legally be declared dead: (1) Irreversible cessation of circulatory and respiratory functions; or (2) Irreversible cessation of all functions of the entire brain, including the brain stem.
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