Brain Injury Terms and Definitions

Orofacial Birth Defect
Choanal atresia, cleft lip, cleft palate

NBDPN
National Birth Defects Prevention Network

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

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

cerebral palsy
A disorder caused by injury to the cerebral area of the brain that occurs before or during birth or in the first few months after birth. Damage to the cerebrum may cause paralysis (palsy) in one or more parts of the body.

Genitourinary Birth Defect
Renal agenesis (bilateral), hypospadias (2nd or 3rd degree)

SADDAN
SADDAN (severe achondroplasia with developmental delay and acanthosis nigricans) is a rare inherited disorder of bone growth characterized by skeletal, brain, and skin abnormalities.

aneurysm
The localized enlargement of a blood vessel, usually an artery, that forms a bulge or sac.

Eye Birth Defect
Anophthalmia/microphthalmia, congenital cataracts, glaucoma

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