Resources 

Glossary of Terms 

[A] [B] [C] [D] [E] [F] [G] [H] [I] [J] [K] [L] [M] [N] [O] [P] [Q] [R] [S] [T] [U] [V] [W] [X] [Y] [Z] 
C.A.C.C.N. Canadian Association of Critical Care Nurses.
C.A.N.N. Canadian Association of Neuroscience Nurses.
C.A.O.T. Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists.
C.A.R.C. Canadian Association of Rehabilitation Centres.
C.A.R.F. Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities.
C.A.R.P. Canadian Association of Rehabilitation Professionals.
Case Management Facilitating the access of a patient to appropriate rehabilitation and support programs, and coordination of the delivery of services. This role may involve liaison with various professionals and agencies, advocacy on behalf of the patient, and arranging for purchase of services where no appropriate programs are available.
Catheter A flexible tube for withdrawing fluids from, or introducing fluids to, a cavity of the body. Frequently used to drain the urinary bladder (foley catheter).
C.B.L.C. Canadian Brain Injury Coalition.
C.C.H.F.A. Canadian Council on Health Facilities Accreditation.
C.C.H.S.A. Canadian Council on Health Service Accreditation.
C.C.R.W. Canadian Council of Rehabilitation and Work.
Central Venous Pressure The central venous pressure line (cvp) is a very thin tube (catheter) inserted into one of the patient's veins to allow direct measurement of the venous blood pressure (the pressure of the blood as it returns to the heart).
Cerebellum The portion of the brain (located at the back) which helps coordinate movement. Damage may result in ataxia.
Cerebral Angiography A medical test involving injection of dye into an artery so that the vascular system of the brain can be studied through an x-ray. Can detect aneurysms, tumors, or circulation problems.
Cerebral Compression The brain substance is pushed aside and compressed by the presence of a brain tumor, aneurysm, swelling or hematoma.
Cerebral Infarct When the blood supply is reduced below a critical level and the brain tissue in that region dies.
Cerebrospinal Fluid Liquid (csf) which fills the ventricles of the brain and surrounds the brain and spinal cord.
C.H.C.A. Canadian Home Care Association.
Chemically Dependent Drug dependent.
Chemotherapy The treatment of a condition by the systematic administration of chemical compounds.
Chest Tubes Tubes inserted into the patient's chest between the lung and ribs to allow fluid and air to drain from the area surrounding the lungs. An accumulation of fluid and air in the lung cavity can cause the lung to collapse. Removing this fluid and air from around the lungs allows them to more fully expand. Chest tubes drain into a large plastic container near the foot of the patient's bed. The patient may have one or more of these tubes in place.
Chronic Care Long-term care for those individuals who require nursing care; a maintenance program to prevent deterioration of skills, and to provide recreational and social opportunities in a structured environment. Emphasis is on improving the quality of life, and expectations regarding improvements in abilities are limited.
Clinical Rehabilitation Psychologist A psychologist who is qualified to assess, diagnose and treat psychological and adjustment disorders following a brain injury or other condition.
Circumlocution Use of other words to describe a specific word or idea which cannot be remembered.
Clonus A sustained series of rhythmic jerks following quick stretch of muscle.
Closed Head Injury Trauma to the head which does not penetrate or fracture the skull but which damages the brain.
C.M.H.C. Canadian Mental Health Centre
Cognition The conscious process of knowing, becoming, or being aware of thoughts or perceptions, including understanding and reasoning.
Cognitive Rehabilitation/C.T. Therapy programs which aid head injury survivors in the management of specific problems in thinking and perception. New strategies and skills are taught to help improve function and/or compensate for remaining deficits.
Coma A state of unconsciousness from which the patient cannot be aroused, even by powerful stimulation.
Coma Treatment Program Primary emphasis is on active intervention with a person described as being in Ranchos Los Amigos Scale levels 11-IV.
Coma Vigil (See Persistent Vegetative State) A patient who neither responds to commands nor moves despite the appearance of cognitive readiness and sustained wakefulness.
Communicative Disorder An impairment in the ability to 1) receive and/or process a symbol system, 2) represent concepts or symbol systems, and/or 3) transmit and use symbol systems. The impairment is observed in disorders of hearing, language, and/or speech processes.
Community Skills Those abilities needed to function independently in the community. They may include telephone skills, money management, pedestrian skills, meal planning and cooking, use of public transportation.
Comprehension Understanding of spoken, written, or gestural communication.
C.O.N./C.N. College of Nurses.
Concentration Maintaining attention on a task over a period of time; remaining attentive and not easily diverted.
Concrete Thinking A style of thinking in which the individual sees each situation as unique and is unable to generalize from the similarities between situations. Thinking in which language is interpreted literally.
Concussion The common result of a blow to the head usually causing unconsciousness, either temporary or prolonged. Physiologic and/or anatomic disruption of connections between some nerve cells in the brain may occur.
Confabulation Verbalizations about people, places, and events with no basis in reality. The patient appears to "fill in" gaps in memory with plausible facts.
Confusion A state in which a person is bewildered perplexed, or unable to self-orient.
Conjugate Movement Both eyes move simultaneously in the same direction. Convergence of the eyes toward the midline (crossed eyes ) is a disconjugate movement.
Consciousness The state of awareness of the self and the environment.
Consulting Physicians Physicians who are specialists in fields other than neurology and neurosurgery. They may be called in by the attending physician to give their opinions on various aspects of care.
Continent The ability to control urination and bowel movements.
Contractures Loss of range of motion in a joint due to abnormal shortening of soft tissues.
Contralateral Opposite side.
Contusion A bruise. A blow to the head which bruises the brain.
Convergence Movement of two eyeballs inward to focus on an object moved closer. The nearer the object, the greater is the degree of convergence necessary to maintain single vision.
Coping Skills The ability to deal with problems and difficulties by attempting to overcome them or accept them.
Core Therapies Basic therapy services provided by professionals on a head injury rehabilitation unit. Refers to nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, neuropsychology, social work and therapeutic recreation.
Cortical Blindness Resulting from a lesion of the primary visual areas of the occipital lobe. Light reflex is preserved.
Contrecoup Bruising of brain tissue on the side opposite where the blow was struck.
Coup Damage Damage to the brain at the point of impact.
C.P.AL Canadian Psychological Association.
C.P.A. Canadian Physiotherapy Association, Canadian Paraplegic Association.
C.P.O. College of Psychologists of Ontario.
C.R.C.C. Commission for Rehabilitation Councellor Certification.
C.R.C.D. Canadian Rehabilitation Council for the Disabled.
C.R.H.C.P.P. Canadian Register of Health Care Providers in Psychology.
C.R.H.S.P.P. Canadian Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology.
Ct Scan/Computerized Axial Tomography A series of x-rays taken at different levels of the brain that allows the direct visualization of intracranial structures. A scan is often taken soon after the injury to help decide if surgery is needed. The scan may be repeated later to see how the brain is recovering.
Cue A signal or direction used to assist a person in performing an activity (telling a person the initial of your first name serves as a cue when he cannot remember your name).

Click here for the printable "Glossary of Terms". 

Material for the glossary was provided by the Ontario Brain Injury Association (OBIA).