Actually brain cells are more affected by a lack of oxygen to the brain. Anoxic brain injury occurs when the brain is deprived its oxygen intake for a significant amount of time. Such deprivation may occur as a result of drowning, choking, strangulation, or other respiratory difficulties. The cells within the brain require oxygen (and therefore blood) to function. Lack of oxygen for a significant period causes the brain cells to die.
Traumatic brain Injuries include tearing (the sudden impact of the body colliding with another object), bruising (like tearing, is caused by impact to the skull) and swelling.
Tearing may cause very delicate tissue in the brain to tear apart which can cause significant brain damage. I bruising, the impact forces the soft tissue of the brain into the much harder skull. The collision between the tissue and the skull may rupture small blood vessels allowing blood to escape into areas of the brain placing additional pressure on the brain tissue. This pressure may cause parts of the brain to stop functioning and it can be quite perilous for any part of the brain to shut down.
While swelling in most other body parts is not typically considered life threatening, swelling of the brain can be. The brain is surrounded by the hard bone of the skull and therefore cannot expand to accommodate the swelling occurring inside. When the brain swells, the pressure inside the skull increases along with the likelihood of severe consequences as a result thereof.