Patient's Complete Guide to Cerebral Herniation

The position to where brain tissue has displaced determines the type of cerebral herniation. It can be classified into three categories:

• Subfalcine - this is the most common type of brain herniation. Under normal circumstances, the brain tissue moves under a membrane called the falx cerebri in the middle of the brain. In this condition, the tissue ends up pushed to one side.
• Transtentorial herniation - this can be further divided into:
• Descending transtentorial or uncal - this is the second most common type of cerebral herniation. The uncus is basically a part of the temporal lobe that is shifted downward into an area called the posterior fossa.
• Ascending transtentorial herniation - in this type, the cerebellum and the brainstem move a little upward in a membrane known as the tentorium cerebelli.
• Cerebellar tonsillar - there is a natural opening at the base of our skull. This is where the spinal cord connects to the brain. In this type, the cerebral tonsils move downward towards this opening.