Battle's sign
Encyclopedia
In medical terminology
, Battle's sign, also mastoid
ecchymosis
, is an indication of fracture
of middle cranial fossa of the skull
, and may suggest underlying brain trauma
. Battle's sign consists of bruising over the mastoid process
, as a result of extravasation
of blood along the path of the posterior auricular artery
.. The sign is named after William Henry Battle
.
Another common bruising sign
of a skull
injury is raccoon eyes
, the purplish discoloration around the eyes following fracture of the frontal portion of the skull base.
Medical terminology
Medical terminology is a vocabulary for accurately describing the human body and associated components, conditions, processes and process in a science-based manner. Some examples are: R.I.C.E., trapezius, and latissimus dorsi. It is to be used in the medical and nursing fields...
, Battle's sign, also mastoid
Mastoid process
The mastoid process is a conical prominence projecting from the undersurface of the mastoid portion of the temporal bone. It is located just behind the external acoustic meatus, and lateral to the styloid process...
ecchymosis
Ecchymosis
An ecchymosis is the medical term for a subcutaneous purpura larger than 1 centimeter or a hematoma, commonly called a bruise. It can be located in the skin or in a mucous membrane.-Presentation:...
, is an indication of fracture
Bone fracture
A bone fracture is a medical condition in which there is a break in the continuity of the bone...
of middle cranial fossa of the skull
Human skull
The human skull is a bony structure, skeleton, that is in the human head and which supports the structures of the face and forms a cavity for the brain.In humans, the adult skull is normally made up of 22 bones...
, and may suggest underlying brain trauma
Traumatic brain injury
Traumatic brain injury , also known as intracranial injury, occurs when an external force traumatically injures the brain. TBI can be classified based on severity, mechanism , or other features...
. Battle's sign consists of bruising over the mastoid process
Mastoid process
The mastoid process is a conical prominence projecting from the undersurface of the mastoid portion of the temporal bone. It is located just behind the external acoustic meatus, and lateral to the styloid process...
, as a result of extravasation
Extravasation
Extravasation is the accidental administration of intravenously infused medicinal drugs into the surrounding tissue, either by leakage , or direct exposure...
of blood along the path of the posterior auricular artery
Posterior auricular artery
The posterior auricular artery is a small artery and arises from the external carotid artery, above the Digastric muscle and Stylohyoid muscle, opposite the apex of the styloid process....
.. The sign is named after William Henry Battle
William Henry Battle
William Henry Marfleet Battle was an English surgeon and teacher.Battle was born in Lincolnshire, 1855. He was educated at Haileybury School, Hertfordshire. His family: Marfleet Battle, were notable Lincolnshire and Sussex landowners....
.
Another common bruising sign
Medical sign
A medical sign is an objective indication of some medical fact or characteristic that may be detected by a physician during a physical examination of a patient....
of a skull
Human skull
The human skull is a bony structure, skeleton, that is in the human head and which supports the structures of the face and forms a cavity for the brain.In humans, the adult skull is normally made up of 22 bones...
injury is raccoon eyes
Raccoon eyes
Raccoon eyes or periorbital ecchymosis is a sign of basal skull fracture, a craniotomy that ruptured the meninges, or certain cancers. Bilateral subconjunctival hemorrhage occurs when damage at the time of a facial fracture tears the meninges and causes the venous sinuses to bleed into the...
, the purplish discoloration around the eyes following fracture of the frontal portion of the skull base.