This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Sign in
Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages without signing in

Tentorial herniation

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

The clinical features of tentorial herniation include:

  • pupils dilated and unreactive to light:
    • due to compression of the III nerve and oculomotor nucleus
    • the palsy is unilateral at first - on the side of the lesion - but later becomes bilateral

  • ptosis or impaired eye movements:
    • may be difficult to discern if conscious level depressed
    • upward gaze is usually lost first because of pressure on the pretectum and superior colliculi

  • homonympus hemianopia - due to occlusion of posterior cerebral artery

  • limb weakness on same side of lesion:
    • a false localising sign - due to pressure from the edge of the tentorium on the opposite cerebral peduncle - Kernohan's notch

  • diabetes insipidus - from downward action on pituitary stalk and hypothalamus

  • may progress to tonsillar herniation

Related pages

Create an account to add page annotations

Create a free account

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.