Brain Injury Terms and Definitions

Central nervous system Birth Defect
Neural tube defects, hydrocephaly, holoprosencephaly, Dandy-Walker malformation

amygdala
uh-MIG-duh-luh). A part of the brain that oversees emotions and triggers your response to danger.

neural tube defect
A structure in early fetal life that develops into the brain, spinal cord, spinal nerves and spine.

cerebellum
The portion of the brain mainly responsible for balance and coordination.

BDPM
Birth Defects Monitoring Program

Beare-Stevenson cutis gyrata syndrome
Beare-Stevenson cutis gyrata syndrome is a genetic disorder characterized by skin abnormalities and the premature fusion of certain bones of the skull craniosynostosis), which prevents further growth of the skull and affects the shape of the head and face.

acetylcholine (ACH)
A chemical in the body that carries messages between the nerves and muscles; a neurotransmitter.

CBDMP
California Birth Defects Monitoring Program

endorphins
Naturally occurring molecules made up of amino acids. Endorphins attach to special receptors in the brain and spinal cord to inhibit pain signals.

Pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration
Pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration (formerly called Hallervorden-Spatz syndrome) is a disorder of the nervous system. The condition is characterized by progressive difficulty with movement and speech