Head Trauma: Hematomas are

• A. Collections of blood that form above or between the meninges.
• B. A tear in the blood vessels that heals quickly.
• C. A brain aneurysm.
• D. A type of brain tumor.

Answer: (A)

A hematoma is a collection of blood outside the vessels. In head trauma, blood can spill from injured vessels and accumulate in spaces around the brain. This pooling occurs either above the dura mater (epidural space) or between the dura and the arachnoid membranes (subdural space). These accumulations are hematomas because they are blood that has gathered in those spaces, putting pressure on brain tissue and needing medical evaluation. The other options describe a tear that heals quickly, a brain aneurysm, or a brain tumor, none of which are collections of blood in those spaces.