Whiplash injury
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 in and around the spine 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.
Read Also:
- Whipple disease
A form of inability to absorb nutrients from the intestine. It can affect any part of the body, leading to arthritis and then weight loss, cough, fever, diarrhea, hypotension (low blood pressure), abdominal swelling, increased skin pigmentation, and severe anemia. Whipple disease has been discovered to be due to a type of bacteria named Tropheryma […]
- Whipple procedure
A type of surgery that is used to treat pancreatic cancer and was devised by the US surgeon Allen Whipple. The head of the pancreas, the duodenum, a portion of the stomach, and other nearby tissues are removed.
- Whipworm
A nematode (roundworm), also called Trichuris trichiura, that is the third most common roundworm in humans. The whipworm is found worldwide, and whipworm infections are most frequent among children and in areas with tropical weather and poor sanitation practices. Infection with whipworm most often occurs without symptoms. Heavy infections, especially in small children, can cause […]
- White blood cell
One of the cells the body makes to help fight infections. There are several types of white blood cells (leukocytes). The two most common types are the lymphocytes and neutrophils (also called polymorphonuclear leukocytes, PMNs, or “polys”). Lymphocytes are made in lymphoid tissue in the spleen, lymph nodes, and thymus gland. There are different kinds […]
- White blood cell count
The number of white blood cells (WBCs) in the blood. The WBC is usually measured as part of the CBC (complete blood count). White blood cells are the infection-fighting cells in the blood and are distinct from the red (oxygen-carrying) blood cells known as erythrocytes. There are different types of white blood cells, including neutrophils […]