In contrast to a cerebral concussion, a cerebral contusion:

• A. Results from a laceration to brain tissue.
• B. Usually does not cause a loss of consciousness.
• C. Does not involve pressure within the skull.
• D. Involves physical injury to the brain tissue.

Answer: (D)

The key idea here is how a cerebral contusion differs from a concussion. A contusion is a bruise inside the brain with actual tissue damage and often bleeding, so it involves physical injury to brain tissue. That tissue damage can lead to swelling and increased intracranial pressure, and it can be associated with loss of consciousness depending on severity. In contrast, a concussion is mainly a functional disturbance—temporary impairment of brain function without gross structural damage visible in the tissue itself.

So the best description of a cerebral contusion is that it involves physical injury to brain tissue. The other statements mischaracterize contusions: they are not defined by tearing of tissue (laceration) alone, they can still cause loss of consciousness, and they can involve pressure changes inside the skull due to swelling or bleeding.