Coup injuries occur when the brain strikes the skull on which side relative to the impact?

Coup injuries occur when the brain strikes the skull on which side relative to the impact?

• A. Opposite Side
• B. Center
• C. Same Side
• D. Both Sides

Answer: (C)

When the head is struck, the brain tends to keep moving due to inertia, so it crashes into the inner surface of the skull on the side that was hit. That direct impact on the same side as the blow is what we call a coup injury. The opposite side can be affected later when the brain rebounds, producing a contrecoup injury. So coup injuries occur on the same side as the impact, not the opposite side or the center.

When the head is struck, the brain tends to keep moving due to inertia, so it crashes into the inner surface of the skull on the side that was hit. That direct impact on the same side as the blow is what we call a coup injury. The opposite side can be affected later when the brain rebounds, producing a contrecoup injury. So coup injuries occur on the same side as the impact, not the opposite side or the center.