Coup-Contrecoup is a medical term which simply means that there are two contusions; one at the site of the head trauma and the other on the opposite side of the brain. A coup injury refers to the initial injury to the brain; an object forcefully impacts the skull, causing the brain to rush forward. The brain is damaged both by the force of the trauma as well as by coming in contact with the abrasive inside of the skull. The contrecoup injury occurs when the initial impact is so forceful that the brain bounces off the impact site and collides forcefully with the opposite side of the skull. The force of the rebound impact, as well as the rough inside of the skull, causes a secondary contusion on the brain, directly opposite the site of the first.