Intermediate
Technical
In the Industry Vocabulary Test
intracranial pressure
Pronunciation: in-trah-KRAY-nee-al PREH-shur
Also written as: ICP — intracranial pressure
Pressure exerted by cerebrospinal fluid and brain tissue within the rigid skull compartment.
Full Definition
Intracranial pressure (ICP) refers to the pressure within the cranial vault, created by the brain tissue, cerebrospinal fluid, and cerebral blood volume. Normal ICP ranges from 5-15 mmHg in adults. Elevated ICP can result from various pathological conditions including brain tumors, trauma, or hydrocephalus, and represents a neurosurgical emergency requiring immediate intervention. ICP monitoring is crucial in neurocritical care settings.
Usage
Usage note: Commonly abbreviated as ICP; specify measurement units (mmHg) when providing values.
In Context
- "The patient developed elevated intracranial pressure requiring emergent decompression." — emergency consultation
- "Continuous intracranial pressure monitoring was initiated postoperatively." — ICU protocol
Also known as
ICP
cranial pressure
Contrasted with
normal intracranial pressure
Don't confuse with
intracranial hypertension
cerebral perfusion pressure