Which condition best describes increased pressure in the skull leading to displacement of brain tissue?

The condition that best describes increased pressure in the skull leading to the displacement of brain tissue is herniation. Herniation occurs when elevated intracranial pressure forces brain tissue to move from its normal position into areas where it can be compressed or displaced, often through openings in the skull, such as the foramen magnum. This displacement can lead to serious complications, including damage to brain structures, disrupted blood flow, and neurological deficits.

While intracranial hypertension refers broadly to the increased pressure within the skull itself, it is the herniation process specifically that describes the resultant displacement of brain tissue caused by that pressure. Cerebral edema refers to the swelling of brain tissue due to excess fluid, which can contribute to increased intracranial pressure but does not itself describe the displacement of tissue. A brain contusion is a bruise of the brain tissue resulting from trauma, which may lead to complications but does not directly relate to the condition of increased pressure leading to tissue displacement.