Essay On Traumatic Brain Injury

Throughout human history, especially military history, the brain has been known to be a crucial part of the body needing protection from projectiles and blunt force impact. The average human head weighs approximately 10 pounds and is perched dangerously exposed on the vulnerable neck of the body. Encased in a relatively thin shell of bone, the brain floats in a fluid designed to further cushion and protect this vital organ. When those protective measures fail and the head is struck or violently jarred, the brain is likely to suffer injury. This type of injury is now known as Traumatic Brain Injury or TBI. The causes of Traumatic Brain Injury and the effects vary by person, the cause and extent of the injury as well as the area of the brain affected. Manley states that Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a multifaceted condition, not an event (473). TBI is generally the result of a sudden, violent impact or jolt to the head due to falls, vehicle accidents and violence. TBI may also be caused by such objects as bullets or a shattered piece of the skull penetrating the brain. During impacts or severe jolts, the fluid fails to adequately cushion the brain and the brain is launched into a …show more content…
Additional physical symptoms for moderate cases may include: loss of consciousness for minutes to hours, convulsions or seizures, there may be dilation of one or both eyes, clear fluid draining from the nose or ears, weakness or numbness in fingers and toes as well as a loss of coordination. Additional cognitive and mental symptoms for moderate cases of TBI can include: profound confusion, agitation, combativeness or unusual behavior, slurred speech, coma or disorders of consciousness. The symptoms of severe cases of TBI resemble moderate symptoms, but are more extreme and may also include unconsciousness lasting for days, amnesia, disability, and even death. (Valente