Whiplash injury

Whiplash injury
Hyperextension (over-extension) injury to the neck, often the result of being struck from behind, as by a fast-moving vehicle in a car accident. The mechanics of whiplash injury are thought to be as follows: The victim may be first pushed or accelerated forward, pushing the body forward, but the head remains behind momentarily, rocking up and back, and some muscles and ligaments may be stretched or torn. These muscles, in a reflex action, contract to bring the head forward again, to prevent excessive injury. There may be overcompensation when the head is traveling in a forward direction as the vehicle decelerates. This may rock the head violently forward, stretching and tearing more muscles and ligaments.

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a popular nonspecific term applied to injury to the spine and spinal cord at the junction of the fourth and fifth cervical vertebrae, occurring as the result of rapid acceleration or deceleration of the body. Because of their greater mobility, the four upper vertebrae act as the lash, and the lower three act as the handle of the whip.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Whiplash injury — Whip lash in ju*ry, n. an injury to the neck caused by the sudden motion of the head backward and forward, as occurs to the occupants of a vehicle hit from behind by another vehicle. [PJC] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • whiplash injury — noun an injury to the neck (the cervical vertebrae) resulting from rapid acceleration or deceleration (as in an automobile accident) • Syn: ↑whiplash • Hypernyms: ↑injury, ↑hurt, ↑harm, ↑trauma …   Useful english dictionary

  • whiplash injury — a soft tissue injury of the neck resulting from a sudden jerking back (hyperextension) of the head and neck, usually following a rear end motor vehicle collision. It is associated with muscle, tendon, and ligament tears and inflammation in the… …   The new mediacal dictionary

  • whiplash injury — Neck injury resulting from a violent forward and backward jerking of the head, as in a vehicle collision …   Dictionary of automotive terms

  • whiplash injury — A snapping of the neck when a person gets his head thrown forward or back or from side to side. Breitenberg v. Parker, 237 Ark. 261, 372 S.W.2d 828, 832. Commonly resulting from rear end motor vehicle collisions, such is caused by a sudden and… …   Black's law dictionary

  • Whiplash — Whip lash , n. 1. The lash of a whip, usually made of thongs of leather, or of cords, braided or twisted. [1913 Webster] 2. a sudden change of direction, resembling the motion of the tip of a whip when it is cracked. [PJC] 3. a stinging… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Whiplash (medicine) — Infobox Disease Name = PAGENAME Caption = DiseasesDB = 14122 ICD10 = ICD10|S|13|4|s|10 ICD9 = ICD9|847.0 ICDO = OMIM = MedlinePlus = 000025 eMedicineSubj = eMedicineTopic = MeshID = D014911 Whiplash and whiplash associated disorders (WAD)… …   Wikipedia

  • whiplash — 01. He got [whiplash] in a car accident last month, and has been off work ever since. 02. My friend got a severe case of [whiplash] when his car was rear ended by a drunk driver. 03. She sued the guy that hit her car for $20,000 because she got a …   Grammatical examples in English

  • whiplash — /hwip lash , wip /, n. 1. the lash of a whip. 2. an abrupt snapping motion or change of direction resembling the lash of a whip. 3. Also, whiplash injury. a neck injury caused by a sudden jerking backward, forward, or both, of the head: Whiplash… …   Universalium

  • whiplash — n. 1 the flexible end of a whip. 2 a blow with a whip. Phrases and idioms: whiplash injury an injury to the neck caused by a jerk of the head, esp. as in a motor accident …   Useful english dictionary

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