Contrecoup injuries occur at which location?

• A. At the impact point on the skull
• B. In soft tissue only
• C. In the skull base
• D. On the opposite side of the skull away from the impact

Answer: (D)

Contrecoup injuries come from the brain lurching after a blow to the head, causing the brain to strike the inner surface of the skull on the side opposite the impact. The force drives the brain to move within the rigid skull, so while the point of contact is where the blow happened, the actual brain injury often occurs on the far side as it rebounds. This distinguishes it from injuries at the impact site (coup injuries) and explains why the damage is found opposite to where the head was struck.