Experimental intracranial pressure gradients in the human skull.

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Experimental data is presented proving the existence of pressure gradients related to acceleration impact along 3 axes of the human skull oriented from the union forward to the frontal bone (postero-anterior); from the parietal bone toward the oposite side in the vertical plane of the foramen magnum (transverse); and from the mid-sagittal line at the junction of the middle and posterior thirds and extended interiorly through the foramen magnum (vertical). The acceleration of the skull and of the striker were recorded by crystal accelerometers. Pressure gradient across the skull are shown to develop as a result of impact without appreciable deformation. It was inferred that flow may occur toward the elastic cranio-spinal junction under such pressures and cause shear stresses to develop in the area of the brain-stem and medulla. This may result in the final common pathway of experimental concussion. This study supports the theory that intracranial damage may be mechanical with tissue damage due to dynamic stresses in the brain created by pressure gradients related to the skull.