Final answer:
Battle's sign and raccoon's eyes are indicative of a basal skull fracture, which can be life-threatening due to potential damage to vessels and nerves at the skull base.
Step-by-step explanation:
Battle's sign and raccoon's eyes are signs of a basal skull fracture. These signs are indicative of bruising around the mastoid process behind the ear (Battle’s sign) and bruising around the eyes (raccoon eyes), which typically appear after a significant force to the head. Basal skull fractures can be life-threatening because they may damage vessels and nerves that pass through the base of the skull, such as the artery that goes through the carotid canal. A strong blow to the head can produce different types of fractures, such as linear, comminuted, depressed, and contrecoup fractures. These injuries can lead to bleeding inside the skull and subsequent brain injury.