What describes bruising of brain tissue due to direct trauma to the head?

Cerebral contusion refers specifically to bruising of the brain tissue caused by direct trauma to the head. It occurs when the brain impacts the inside of the skull as a result of a strong force, which can lead to localized swelling, bleeding, and damage to brain cells. This injury typically happens in cases of blunt force trauma, such as during vehicle accidents or falls, where the brain is jostled within the cranial cavity.

Understanding this specific term helps differentiate it from other brain injuries. For example, a concussion entails a temporary disruption of brain function resulting from a blow to the head, but it does not necessarily involve bruising of brain tissue. A penetrating injury is characterized by an object breaking through the skull and directly damaging brain tissue, but it does not describe a bruise caused by blunt impact. A subdural hematoma involves blood collecting between the brain and its outermost covering (the dura mater) due to tearing of blood vessels, which is different from the localized bruising that characterizes contusions. Thus, "cerebral contusion" is the accurate term that directly describes the bruising of brain tissue following blunt trauma to the head.