The human brain sits within a hard, bony skull. The brain and spinal cord is surrounded by the meninges which enclose and protect the tissue. The meninges consist of three layers, the dura, arachnoid, and pia mater. The dura consists of two layers that are firmly attached to the skull. Below that is the arachnoid, and closest to the brain is the pia. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is in between the space in the meninges and helps cushion the brain. In an epidural hematoma, the blood leaks in between the dura and skull. This occurs due to a ruptured middle meningeal artery. The leaked blood can cause pressure on the brain, leading to dangerous consequences. An epidural hematoma most commonly occurs in younger people with skull fracture at the thinnest part of the skull, known as the pterion (the bone above your ear). Patients with epidural hematomas may initially seem asymptomatic. However, after a few hours, they may suddenly deteriorate. This time period prior to symptom development is known as the lucid interval. Epidural hematomas, for this reason, are also known as “talk and die” syndrome.