"Preface An earlier SAE International compendium (Biomechanics of Impact Injury and Injury Tolerances of the Head-Neck Complex@ PT-43@ edited by Stanley H. Backaitis) provided a collection of papers from the early 1960s through 1991 and so this compendium focuses on the early 1990s up to the present (2011). This collection also includes several of the earlier papers to help put current research into a historical perspective. The ""Blunt Head Trauma"" chapter ties together anatomy@ injury mechanisms@ and a number of related topics regarding current research as well as introduces some of the concepts likely to be utilized in the future. It takes an interdisciplinary approach and draws upon transportation@ sports@ falls@ and military applications of the basic principles. This compendium is divided into three volumes: The Skull (Volume I); The Brain (Volume II); and Mitigation (Volume III). Volume I contains publications primarily related to head impact and the resulting injury to the ""outside"" of the head@ namely the skin@ bones of the skull@ and sensory organs. Volume II includes publications relating to injury of the head's contents@ primarily the brain@ its surrounding membranes@ and its blood supply. The causes of the injuries include head impact with an external environment (e.g.@ vehicle interior) and abrupt head movement without head impact. Volume III applies protective strategies to various injury scenarios (e.g.@ passenger vehicles@ football players@ blast injuries) or to a particular demographic group (e.g.@ children@ seniors). Each volume includes: 1) reprints of approximately a dozen previously-published technical papers@ plus an SAE paper providing a detailed discussion of the anatomy of the head; 2) a table of more than 250 references arranged by topic@ (e.g.@ transportation mode or sport); and 3) a new chapter that ties together various aspects of anatomy@ injury@ and injury mechanisms. The resultant insight regarding head injury should be applicable to a broad range of applications@ including transportation@ falls@ sports@ and blast-related injury and the reprinted papers@ in conjunction with the bibliography and chapter@ should offer useful insights@ not only with regard to the past and present@ but as this ever-changing field continues to evolve@ regarding future applications as well."