[Stress distribution in the brain--numerical simulation by the finite element method].

The analysis of the deformation of brain and distribution of stress caused by the compression from outside would be interesting and also useful for the better understanding of the pathophysiology in the cases of intracranial hematoma and other space occupying lesions. The computerized numerical simulation using the finite element method was carried out to analyze these problems. A simple brain model of two dimensions, that was composed of the inner surface of skull, brain and lateral ventricles, was utilized and it was divided into 101 triangular elements for the calculation of finite element method by a 16-bit personal computer. The model of brain was compressed in two different ways; one was a subdural hematoma type where the force of compression was distributed over relatively wide area and the other was a epidural hematoma type where compression was localized to smaller area. In both types, the brain was compressed on the left fronto-temporal region. The deformation of brain in the subdural hematoma type model was that corresponding to the hematoma of crescent shape just as seen on the CT scan of actual case. The lateral ventricle of affected side was deformed more markedly than that of contralateral side. The midline structure of the brain was shifted to normal side and shift was larger in the portion anterior to the lateral ventricles. The stress was distributed from the area beneath the hematoma to remote location in the affected hemisphere but the propagation of stress was blocked by the falx and it was very small in the contralateral hemisphere.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)