Concussions

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Concussion
In my report I will be talking about concussions. Concussion, by definition, is a clinical syndrome characterized by immediate and transient posttraumatic impairment of neural functions. Some examples include alterations of consciousness, disturbance of vision, and loss of equilibrium. These are just some of the effects of a concussion. A concussion is a serious head injury and is not something people should take lightly.

The brain is composed of soft, delicate structures that lie within the rigid skull. Surrounding the brain is a tough, leathery outer covering called the dura (door-a). Within the brain there are cranial nerves that are responsible for many activities, such as eye opening, facial movements, speech and hearing. These nerves carry and receive messages that allow the person to think and function normally. There are also centers that control level of consciousness and vital activities, such as breathing. The brain is cushioned by blood and spinal fluid. There is very little extra room within the skull cavity. An injury to the head causes the brain to bounce against the rigid bone of the skull. This force may cause a tearing or twisting of the structures and blood vessels of the brain, which results in a breakdown of the normal flow of messages within the brain. The damage to the brain generally is found deep within the brain tissue. Because of this damage, the normal function of t!
he brain signals are interrupted.

There are different levels of severity for concussions. The grading system is as follows:
· Grade 1
The mild concussion occurs when the person does not lose consciousness (pass out) but may seem dazed.
· Grade 2
The slightly more severe form occurs when the person does not lose consciousness but has a period of confusion and does not recall the event.
· Grade 3
The classic concussion, which is the most severe form, occurs when the person loses consciousness for a brief period of ...