Glossary Of Birth Injury Terms

• alloimmune hemolytic anemia: a condition where red blood cells are destroyed faster than they can be created, which means the baby will not receive enough oxygen

• anemia: low concentration of red blood cells or below normal quantity of hemoglobin in the blood

• antibody: a type of protein that detects harmful proteins called antigens

• antigen: any substance that causes your body to produce antibodies against it

• apnea: a state of suspended breathing

• athetoid cerebral palsy: a form of cerebral palsy, which is also known as dyskinetic cerebral palsy, and is marked by slow and involuntary muscle movement

• avulsion: the most severe type of brachial plexus injury, in which the nerve is torn from the spine

• bilirubin: a colored substance created when red blood cells break down

• brachial plexus: the network of nerves that conduct signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand

• brain stem: posterior portion of the brain, connected with the spinal cord, which regulates motor and sensory functions

• cerebrospinal fluid (CSF): clear liquid inside and around the brain and spinal cord area

• cesarean section: a surgical procedure when incisions are made in a woman’s abdomen through which to deliver a baby

• cyanosis: condition when skin has a bluish tinge

• defendant: the individual or entity your attorney believes to be responsible for your birth injury

• dental dysplasia: abnormal development of two or more teeth within one or both jaws

• dystocia: difficulty during child birth

• erythroblastosis fetalis: severe hyperbilirubinemia/jaundice

• euphoria: mental or emotional state associated with bliss or profound well-being

• fetus: the developing state for mammals after the embryonic stage and before birth

• heart murmur: inconsistent or turbulent flow of blood that is loud enough to cause a sound

• hypertonia: when muscles have an increased level of resting activity and an increased resistance to stretch

• hypotonia: low muscle tone, which often leads to reduced muscle strength

• induced labor: artificial method of stimulating childbirth in a woman

• jaundice: discoloration of the skin due to a high concentration of bilirubin in the blood

• kernicterus: when infants sustain damage to the brain centers due to high concentration of bilirubin

• lethargy: extreme physical and/or mental fatigue

• neuroma: a brachial plexus injury in which the nerve has torn and healed but scar tissue puts pressure on the injured nerve and prevents it from conducting signals to the muscles

• neuropraxia: brachial plexus injury, also known as a “stretch,” in which the nerve has been damaged but not torn

• oxygen deficiency: during childbirth when the infant suffers an injury that prevents oxygen flow to the brain

• palsy: paralysis of a body part, which is often associated with lack of sensation and ability to control movement

• paralysis: inability to use muscles, which can be associated with loss of feeling in muscles

• placenta: an organ that connects a developing fetus to the uterine wall, which allows for nutrient uptake, waste elimination, and gas exchange via the mother’s blood supply

• plaintiff: the individual filing a claim for damages

• rupture: a brachial plexus injury in which the nerve is torn but not at the spinal attachment

• serosa: a smooth membrane consisting of cells that excrete serous fluid and line and enclose body cavities

• trauma: a serious or body altering injury

• uterus: also known as the “womb,” this is the major reproductive sex organ in which the fetus develops during pregnancy