Cerebral Pathophysiology

Neuronal function, underlying integrative activities of the brain, has long appealed to investigators of the nervous system. The pathophysiological responses of the central nervous system to injuries is of importance to the integrity and survival of the neural tissue. However, the role of neurons in these responses consists more of their participation in tissue metabolism rather than of their functional involvement. This volume on cerebral pathophysiology provides an excellent overview of the phenomena which manifest themselves in the actue consequences of insults to the central nervous system. Specific sections focus on blood-brain barrier, alteration of fluid balance and electrolyte contents, perturbation of cell volume and pH homeostasis, interference with the reactivity of the vascular system, and their repercussions with respect to the craniospinal pressure/volume relations and the eventual compromise of tissue energy metabolism. The vaste accumulation of research in this area has been very specialized and thus fragmented especially when transcending disciplines. This volume assimilates these different subjects into a mutual perspective that covers these various fields.