http://www.ck12.org Chapter 1. Human Biology
A person with a serious brain injury usually suffers permanent brain damage. As a result, the person may have
trouble talking or controlling body movements. Symptoms depend on what part of the brain was injured. Serious
brain injuries can also cause personality changes and problems with mental abilities such as memory. Medicines,
counseling, and other treatments may help people with serious brain injuries recover from, or at least learn to cope
with, their disabilities.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries make it difficult for messages to travel between the brain and body. They may cause a person to
lose the ability to feel or move parts of the body. This is calledparalysis. Whether paralysis occurs—and what parts
of the body are affected if it does—depends on the location and seriousness of the injury. In addition to car crashes
and sports injuries, diving accidents are a common cause of spinal cord injuries.
Some people recover from spinal cord injuries. But many people are paralyzed for life. Thanks to the work of
Christopher Reeve (Figure1.101), more research is being done on spinal cord injuries now than ever before. For
example, scientists are trying to discover ways to regrow damaged spinal cord neurons.
FIGURE 1.101
Former Superman star Christopher
Reeve was paralyzed from the neck down
in a fall from a horse. The injury crushed
his spinal cord so his brain could no
longer communicate with his body.Vocabulary
- concussion: Bruise on the surface of the brain that can cause temporary problems such as headache, drowsi-
ness, and confusion. - paralysis: Loss of ability to feel or move parts of the body.
Summary
- Mild brain injuries, such as a concussion, normally heal on their own, while serious brain injuries can cause
permanent physical and mental disabilities. - Spinal cord injuries can lead to paralysis, when a person loses the ability to feel or move parts of the body.
Practice
Use the resource below to answer the questions that follow.