Question

Trauma to which one of the following vessels or groups of vessels commonly causes epidural hematoma?

A. Middle meningeal artery
B. Meningeal bridging veins
C. Cavernous sinus
D. Basilar artery
E. Transverse sinus

Answer 1

Trauma to the middle meningeal artery commonly causes epidural hematoma, which is a type of traumatic brain injury where blood accumulates between the dura mater and the skull.

Step-by-step explanation:

The vessel that commonly causes an epidural hematoma when traumatized is the middle meningeal artery. An epidural hematoma is a type of traumatic brain injury, often associated with skull fractures, where blood accumulates between the dura mater and the skull. The middle meningeal artery is prone to injury because it runs underneath the temporal bone, which is a common fracture site in head injuries. Other venous structures mentioned, such as the superior sagittal sinus and the transverse sinus, are important for the venous drainage of the brain, with the superior sagittal sinus receiving most of the blood drained from the superior surface of the cerebrum. However, they are less commonly involved in epidural hematomas compared to the middle meningeal artery.