Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) Practice Exam

Which type of hematoma occurs due to torn bridging meningeal veins?

1. Epidural

2. Intracerebral

3. Intraventricular

4. Subdural

The correct answer is: Subdural

The type of hematoma that occurs due to torn bridging meningeal veins is indeed a subdural hematoma. This condition arises when there is a rupture of the bridging veins that cross the subdural space, which is the area between the dura mater and the arachnoid mater. These veins are particularly vulnerable to tearing during rapid acceleration-deceleration injuries, such as in falls or motor vehicle accidents. Subdural hematomas often develop slowly and can be acute or chronic, depending on the time elapsed after the injury. Symptoms may not appear immediately following the trauma, and this evolution is associated with how the blood accumulates in the subdural space. In contrast, an epidural hematoma occurs between the skull and the dura mater, often due to arterial bleeding from a tear in the meningeal artery. An intracerebral hematoma refers to bleeding within the brain tissue itself, while an intraventricular hematoma involves blood in the brain's ventricular system. Thus, the characteristics and locations of these different types of hematomas help clarify why a subdural hematoma is specifically associated with torn bridging meningeal veins.