The paper presents the most recent knowledge related to the patophysiology of traumatic axonal injury and resulting forensic and clinical implications. The mechanistic idea is replaced by the idea of dynamic cascade of biochemical events on subcellular level, finally leading to axonotmesis. Interventions targeted to the cascade are discussed with respect to toxic drugs. Finally a necessity to consider the new knowledge in forensic problems is outlined.

        Key words: axonal injury – head trauma