ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses current theories on the mechanisms involved in head and brain injuries resulting from a blunt impact to the head. The first section introduces some physical concepts that are germane to understanding the work that has been carried out in this area. Section two describes the methods that are most often used to study the biomechanics of the response of the brain during an impact to the head. Section three is a discussion of current theories that are used to describe the biomechanics of head injury. The fourth section reviews current head impact tolerance criteria. The chapter concludes with some comments on the likely direction of future research in this area, including the study of the biochemical events that follow impact loading to brain tissue.
