What area of the brain may sustain a contusion if a patient is struck in the back of the head with a baseball bat?

When a patient is struck in the back of the head, the area most susceptible to injury is the occipital lobe. This region of the brain is directly located at the back of the skull and is primarily responsible for processing visual information. A contusion occurs when there is bruising of the brain tissue, often due to acceleration-deceleration forces or direct impact. The occipital lobe is particularly vulnerable in scenarios of trauma to the back of the head, as the impact can cause the brain to move within the skull, resulting in damage to this area.

Other areas of the brain, such as the frontal, parietal, and temporal lobes, are not positioned in a way that would directly sustain injury from a blow to the back of the head as dramatically as the occipital lobe. While it is still possible for trauma to affect nearby structures due to the complex nature of brain injuries, the primary site of contusion when impacted at the back would primarily involve the occipital region.