MEDizzy - Questions 8 and 9 A left-side subdural hematoma develops in

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Motor and Integrative Neurophysiology (I)

Questions 8 and 9 A left-side subdural hematoma develops in a 23-year-old man after an automobile accident. Physical examination shows papilledema 3 days after the accident. Use this information to answer Questions 8 and 9. Collapse of which of the following structures is most likely to lead to a decrease in brain oxygenation in this patient?

ExplanationThe veins have lower pressures compared with arteries and capillaries, making them easier to compress. When the veins are compressed, the capillary pressure increases, which increases the ultrafiltration of fluid from the capillaries into the interstitial spaces, thereby increasing the intracranial pressure even more. The increase in intracranial pressure can cause compression of lateral ventricles and the subarachnoid space, but this mechanism is compensatory rather than a cause for deterioration of blood flow and brain oxygenation.