Birth Injury Glossary - C
Understanding Birth Injury Terms and Definitions
The material contained in medical records and research materials usually contains words that are unfamiliar and new. The Cerebral Palsy Glossary contains definitions of terms and acronyms that are commonly associated with cerebral palsy.
Cardiac Reserve
- The work that the heart is able to perform beyond what is required of it in ordinary circumstances.
Cephalad
- toward the head; away from the end of the body.
Cephalic
- Located on, in or near the head.
- Cephalohematoma is a birth complication involving buildup of blood from broken or damaged vessels (hemorrhage) that may occur between the baby’s skull and outer layer of skin during the birth process. During labor, especially during a delivery involving an assisted vaginal delivery with forceps or a vacuum extractor, the pressure applied to the baby’s head can rupture tiny blood vessels when the skull is compressed against the maternal pelvis.
Cerebellum
- The part of the brain that coordinates movement, walking and balance. The cerebellum is located on the back of the brainstem.
- A neurological disability caused by the abnormal development of, or damage to, motor areas of the brain. Indicators of cerebral palsy include muscular incoordination and speech disturbances. Types of cerebral palsy include spastic, ataxic and athetoid.
- Neonatal Cholestasis refers to impaired flow of bile at any point from the liver cells into the intestine of a newborn. Neonatal Cholestasis may be caused by viruses, metabolic disease or genetic disorders, as well as other rare diseases that affect or impair the function of the liver.
- Chorioamnionitis is an acute bacterial infection of pregnancy that enters the mother’s uterus and invades the membrane and amniotic fluid that surrounds the baby. The most common bacteria causing chorioamnionitis are Group B Strep or E.Coli.
Chronic
- Of a long duration. Used to describe slowly-progressing diseases and disorders.
Complete Blood Count (CBC)
- A routine blood test used for many medical reasons. A CBC measures a combination of totals from the red blood cell count, white blood cell count, and the amount of hemoglobin (a blood protein that carries oxygen).
Congenital
- Conditions that are present at birth or acquired during uterine development.
Contraction
- 1. A shortening (tensing) of a muscle 2. Rhythmic tightening of the uterus during pregnancy, which causes a drop in blood and oxygen supplies to the fetus. Uterine contractions usually occur during late labor, and can last as long as 1 minute.
Contraction Stress Test (CST)
- A test performed near the end of pregnancy to determine if the fetus will stay healthy during labor. A CST makes sure a fetus will survive the oxygen loss due to contractions. During the test, the hormone oxytocin is delivered intravenously, in order to stimulate contractions. A test involving nipple stimulation may also be used.
Corpus Callosum
- A connecting band of nerve tissue in the brain, that joins the cerebral hemispheres.
- A condition in which the baby’s head is too large to fit through the mother’s pelvis.
CPK (Creatine Phosphokinase)
- An enzyme found mainly in the heart, brain and skeletal tissue. When the total CPK level is very high, it usually means there’s been ian injury to the heart, brain or muscle tissue. For example, when a muscle is damaged, CPK leaks into the bloodstream. Determining which type of CPK is present helps doctors determine which exact tissue has been damaged.
Creatine Kinase
- An enzyme usually found in the brain, that tends to indicate injury when levels are high.