intracraniana

Intracraniana is a term used in medical contexts to refer to structures, processes, or conditions located within the cranium, i.e., inside the skull. In many languages it is synonymous with intracranial. The term encompasses brain tissue, the meninges, the ventricular system, cerebral blood vessels, and cerebrospinal fluid spaces. It does not include structures outside the skull, such as the scalp or skull bones themselves.

Anatomically, the intracranial compartment houses the brain (cerebrum, cerebellum, brainstem), the three meningeal layers (dura mater, arachnoid mater, pia mater), the ventricular system (lateral ventricles, third and fourth ventricles), and the cerebrospinal fluid pathways. Cerebral blood flow and venous drainage are integral to maintaining intracranial homeostasis. The skull and meningeal layers enclose these elements, while intracranial pressure reflects the balance between brain tissue, CSF, and blood volume.

Common intracranial conditions include elevated intracranial pressure, intracranial hemorrhages (epidural, subdural, subarachnoid, intraparenchymal), intracranial tumors, hydrocephalus, and infections such as meningitis or encephalitis. Symptoms vary by location and severity and may include headache, nausea, vomiting, altered consciousness, or focal neurological deficits.

Diagnosis typically relies on imaging such as computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assess structure and pathology. Lumbar puncture can provide CSF data but is used with caution when raised intracranial pressure is suspected. Invasive intracranial pressure monitoring is employed in critical cases.

Treatment is condition-specific and may involve stabilization, measures to control intracranial pressure, surgical intervention for mass effect or hydrocephalus, and targeted therapies for infection or tumor. See also intracranial pressure, meninges, brain, hydrocephalus, and intracranial hemorrhage.