Coup-Contrecoup describes injury where?

• A. Brain Injury At Impact Site Only
• B. Brain Injury At Impact Site And Opposite Side
• C. Injury To The Spine From Whiplash
• D. Bruising Of Brain From Direct Impact Only

Answer: (B)

Coup-contrecoup injuries describe brain injuries that occur at the site of impact and on the opposite side as the brain rebounds within the skull after a blunt force. When the head is struck, the brain moves and sustains damage at the point of contact; as it continues moving, it slams into the opposite side of the skull, causing a second injury there. This explains why injury patterns can appear on both sides of the brain, not just at the initial impact. It isn’t about a spinal injury from whiplash or bruising limited to the direct impact alone—the coup-contrecoup phenomenon reflects injuries on both the near and far sides of the brain due to the brain’s inertia and movement within the skull.