Cranial Cavity, Venous Sinuses and Brain - LO 8
8. Understand the difference between epidural (extradural), subdural (dural border), and subarachnoid hemorrhage/hematoma. What is a brain infarction?
8. Understand the difference between epidural (extradural), subdural (dural border), and subarachnoid hemorrhage/hematoma. What is a brain infarction?
The term hemorrhage is an umbrella term for blood loss, while hematoma indicates a hemorrhage within an existing tissue space.
Brain infarction is an area of dead (necrotic) tissue in the brain, often areas of the cerebrum. This is typically caused by stenosis of an artery (such as the common carotid aa., internal carotid aa., or vertebral aa.), usually by an accumulation of plaque within the artery. A portion of the plaque (an embolus) may dislodge and travel in the bloodstream until it cannot pass (gets stuck) in a smaller, intracranial branch, typically causing insufficient arterial supply to a region of the brain (e.g. an acute cortical infarction).