Bleeding that occurs in the space surrounding the brain rather than inside the brain tissue is characteristic of which hemorrhage?

Bleeding that occurs in the space surrounding the brain rather than inside the brain tissue is characteristic of which hemorrhage?

• A. Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
• B. Subdural Hematoma
• C. Intracerebral Hemorrhage
• D. Epidural Hematoma

Answer: (A)

Bleeding into the space around the brain means the blood is in the subarachnoid space, which lies between the arachnoid and pia mater and contains cerebrospinal fluid. This defines a subarachnoid hemorrhage. It differs from bleeding within brain tissue (intracerebral hemorrhage) and from bleeds in other meningeal spaces such as between dura and arachnoid (subdural) or between skull and dura (epidural). Clinically, a sudden, severe thunderclap headache with possible neck stiffness from meningeal irritation fits subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Bleeding into the space around the brain means the blood is in the subarachnoid space, which lies between the arachnoid and pia mater and contains cerebrospinal fluid. This defines a subarachnoid hemorrhage. It differs from bleeding within brain tissue (intracerebral hemorrhage) and from bleeds in other meningeal spaces such as between dura and arachnoid (subdural) or between skull and dura (epidural). Clinically, a sudden, severe thunderclap headache with possible neck stiffness from meningeal irritation fits subarachnoid hemorrhage.