head injury
any physical injury to the scalp or skull or any brain damage that may result. Head injuries are usually caused by blunt force, such as a blow to the head, but may result from significant acceleration or deceleration in the absence of physical contact (see acceleration–deceleration injury). They are commonly classified as either closed, in which the head strikes an object (e.g., a concussion), or open (penetrating), in which a foreign object passes through the skull and enters the brain (e.g., a gunshot wound). A variety of transient or permanent neuropsychological consequences may result, including charged emotion, behavior, and personality; disturbances of executive functions; memory and attention difficulties; and sensory and motor deficits. Also called head trauma.