RESOURCES: Glossary
Definitions: G
Glasgow Coma Scale: A standardized system used to assess the degree of brain impairment and to identify the seriousness of injury in relation to outcome. The system involves three determinants: eye opening, verbal responses and motor response all of which are evaluated independently according to a numerical value that indicates the level of consciousness and degree of dysfunction. Scores run from a high of 15 to a low of 3. Persons are considered to have experienced a "mild" brain injury when their score is 13 to 15. A score of 9 to 12 is considered to reflect a "moderate" brain injury and a score of 8 or less reflects a "severe" brain injury.
Definitions: H
Halo-Vest: This is a means of providing fixation for an individual who has sustained a cervical spinal injury and the injury is unstable. It consists of a metal halo system that is embedded in the skull and a body jacket. It is not removable and is usually worn for approximately three months until satisfactory bony healing has occurred.
Hematoma: The collection of blood in tissues or a space following rupture of a blood vessel. The hematoma can be classified depending on its location. For example an epidural hematoma is outside the brain and its fibrous covering, the dura, but under the skull. A subdural hematoma is between the brain and its fibrous covering. An intracerebral hematoma is located in the brain tissue, and a subarachnoid hematoma is around the surfaces of the brain, between the dura and arachnoid membranes.
Hemianopsia: Visual field cut. Blindness for one half of the field of vision. This not the right or left eye, but the right or left half of vision in each eye.
Hemiplegia: Paralysis of one side of the body as a result of injury to neurons carrying signals to muscles from the motor areas of the brain.
Hemiparesis: Weakness of one side of the body.
Hemorrhage: Bleeding that occurs following damage to blood vessels.
High Level Cognitive Processes: Refers to judgment comprehension of problems, deductive and inductive reasoning, problem-solving and planning.
Hydrocephalus: Enlargement of fluid-filled cavities in the brain, not due to brain atrophy.
Hypoxia: Insufficient oxygen reaching the tissues of the body.