Our skull and brain are the core of our entire body. Anatomically, the entire skull is made up of 22 bones, eight of which are cranial bones. Connected to the cranial bones are facial bones that give structure to the face and a place for the facial muscles to attach. The cranium has a significant job; to hold and protect the brain!
The brain is one of the largest and most complex organs in the human body. It is made up of more than 100 billion nerves that help communicate in trillions of connections called synapses. Additionally, the brain is made up of several specialized areas that work together – these include:
- Cortex – The cortex is the outermost layer of brain cells. Thinking begins in this specific area.
- Brain stem – This area is between the spinal cord and the rest of the brain. Basic functions like breathing and sleep are managed here.
- Basal ganglia – The basal ganglia are a cluster of structures in the center of the brain. This area coordinates messages between many other brain areas.
- Cerebellum – The cerebellum is at the very base and the back of the brain. This area is widely responsible for coordination and balance.
A subdural hematoma is a type of bleeding inside your head. It is a life-threatening bleed that occurs within the skull of the head, but outside of the brain tissue. The brain has three membranes layers or coverings (meninges) that lay between the bony skull and the brain tissue.
The purpose of the meninges is to cover and protect the brain. In subdural hematoma, you may have experienced a sudden tear in a blood vessel, most commonly a vein, and blood is leaking out of the torn vessel into the space below the dura mater membrane layer. This space is called the subdural space because it is below the dura. Other names for subdural hematoma are subdural hemorrhage or intracranial hematoma.