Human Brain Injury Anatomy

Depending on the individual, the brain weighs two to five pounds and consists of a gray, gel-like substance, called cerebrospinal fluid. The cerebrospinal fluid consists of millions of microscopic fibers. Your brain functions by sending neuro-chemical impulses through the axonal-dendric connections, which are referred to as synapses. If human brain tissue is forcibly impacted as in a car wreck, your axonal-dendric connections may break apart, or become badly damaged.

Your brain consists of three major organs: cerebellum, cortex, and brain stem, or diencephalon. Your cerebellum is in charge of your balance and coordination. Your brain stem connects your spinal cord to the brain, which in turn sends signals to your organs such as your heart, and lungs and kidneys, and controls natural survival instincts by controlling adrenaline output, heart rate, urination, breathing, consciousness, fear and hunger.

Your skull helps protect your brain but the cranium is not as thick as you might imagine and certainly not padded on the inside. In fact, just the opposite is true. The inside of your cranium is ribbed with hard bony structures. This means that if there is a sudden back and forth or side to side movement of your head as can be caused in a car or big rig wreck, the brain can slam into the ribbing and forever change the quality of life due to the bruise injury. Even what appear to be minor impacts can result in traumatic brain injury.

The cortex, the middle of your brain, is responsible for the majority of thoughts and analysis. The cortex consists of 4 lobes along with 2 hemispheres: the right and the left. The left hemisphere is usually the dominant portion of the brain and is responsible for controlling our ability to talk, read, write, or compute mathematical functions. The right side of your brain on the other hand controls visual-spatial functions like musical rhythm, the ability to draw and other visual memories associated with computing, programming and drawing. If you want to test the quality of the right brain, if you are right handed, close your eyes and draw an object with your left hand. You will be amazed by the accuracy of the drawing.

The frontal lobe is often injured from motor vehicle accidents because if it often the part of the brain that is most severely impacted in a car wreck. The frontal controls emotions and personal characteristics such as your core personality.

If you or a loved one suffered a Cerebellum, Cortex and Brain Stem injury in a car or truck accident, call Atlanta, Georgia personal injury trial lawyers at 404-816-7374.