Meninges

singularmeninxfrom the Greek

Membraneswhich envelops thecentral nervous system.

Consist of three layers:

TheDuramater mater,
The Arachnoid mater, and
The Pia mater.
The primary function of the meninges and of the C
erebrospinal fluidis to protect the
Central nervous system.

Dura mater
(also rarely called meninx fibrosa, or pachymeninx)

It is a thick, durable membrane,

closest to the skull.
It consists of two layers, the endosteal layer which lies

closest to the calvaria, and the inner meningeal layer

which lies closer to the brain. It is continuous with the

spinal duramater.

It contains larger blood vessels which split into

the capillaries in the pia mater.

It is composed of dense fibrous tissue,

Its inner surface is covered by flattened cells like

those present on the surfaces of the piamater and

arachnoid mater

The duramater is a sac which envelops the

arachnoid and has been modified to serve several

functions.
 The duramater surrounds and supports the

large venous channels (dural sinuses) carrying

blood from the brain

It provides sheaths for the cranial nerves,

The meningeal layer has folded on itself

1. Falx cerebri 2. Tentorium cerebelli

3. falx cerebelli 4. Diaphragm sellae.

 1. Falx cerebri

It is large sickle-shaped lies between two cerebral

hemisphers

Anterior end attached to crista galli

Posterior end attached to the tentorium cerebelli.

It has two margin upper and lower

Three venous sinuses 1. superior sagittal

2. inferior sagittal 3. Straight sinus

 2. Tentorium cerebelli

It is tente shaped separates cerebellum from

occipital lobes

The cranial cavity divides into supra and

infratentorial compartments

Anterior end free posterior end attached to the

lips transverse sulci

 3. Falx cerebelli

It is small sickle-shaped projecting forwards

into the posterior cerebellar notch.

Posterior margin is convex attached to internal

occipital crest, encloses the occipital sinus.

Anterior margin is free

 4. Diaphragm sellae.

It is a small circular horizontal fold forms roof of

hypophyseal fossa

Anteriorly attached to the tuberculum sellae.

Posteriorly attached to dorsum sellae.

Each side continuous with duramater

It has central opening through which stalk

passes.
 Blood supply

Middle meningeal artery.

Anterior & posterior ethmoidal, ophthalmic artery.

Posterior fossa by vertebral, occipital &

ascending phryngeal arteries

Nerves

Anterior ethmoidal, maxillary nerve, brs of

mandibular nerve, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, cervical nerves

 Venous Sinuses

Venous sinuses are formed by two layers of

duramater, receive venous blood from the brain,

meninges, and bones of skull.

Venous sinuses communicate with veins out side

the skull through emissary veins. That helps to

keep pressure of blood constant

 There are 23 venous sinuses

Paired 8 and unpaired 7

Paired venous sinuses

1. Cavernous sinus 2. Superior petrosal sinus

3. Transverse sinus 4. Sigmoid sinus

5. Sphenoparietal sinus 6. Petrosquamous sinus

2. Middle menigneal sinus /veins

 Unpaired venous sinuses

These are median in position

1. Superior sagittal sinus 2.Inferior sagittal sinus

3. Straight sinus 4. Ociipital sinus

5. Anterior intercavernous sinus

6. Posterior intercavernous sinus

7. Basilar plexus of veins

 Pia mater

The pia mater is a very delicate membrane. It is

the meningeal envelope which firmly adheres to the

surface of the brain and spinal cord.

As such it follows all the minor contours of

the brain (gyri and sulci).

 It is a very thin membrane composed

of fibrous tissue covered on its outer surface by a

sheet of flat cells thought to be impermeable to fluid.

The pia mater is pierced by blood vessels which

travel to the brain and spinal cord,

and its capillaries are responsible for nourishing

the brain.
 Spaces

The subarachnoid space

is the space which normally exists between the

arachnoid and the pia mater,

which is filled with cerebrospinal fluid.

Normally, the dura mater is attached to the

skull,

or to the bones of the vertebral canal

The arachnoid is not attached to the dura

mater, while the pia mater is attached to the

central nervous system tissue.

When the dura mater and the arachnoid

separate through injury

or illness, the space between them is the

subdural space.