Coup Injury

Coup injuries are brain contusions (bruises or hematoma of tissue) which are caused by direct transmission of impact energy generated by the acceleration and deceleration forces through the skull into the underlying brain and occur directly below the site of the injury.

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Contrecoup Injury

Contrecoup injuries to the brain are caused by rotational shear and other indirect forces that occur contralateral (opposite) to the primary injury site.