A concussion is a type of brain injury caused by a hard blow to the head or body that shakes the brain. It can cause headaches, confusion, memory problems, and other temporary difficulties.
From Latin 'concussiō', from 'concutere' ('to shake violently'), combining 'com-' and 'quatere' ('to shake'). It entered English in the 1500s for violent shaking or shock, especially to the brain.
A concussion isn’t just 'getting your bell rung'; it’s your brain literally bouncing and twisting inside your skull. Symptoms can be invisible, which is why modern sports take them far more seriously than in the past.
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