MENINGES
AND
VENOUS SINUSES
TheMeninges
• The Meninges are the
membrane covering the
brain and spinal cord.
• The Meninges consist of
three membranes:
1. The dura mater,
2. The arachnoid mater,
3. The pia mater.
TheMeninges
The Meninges
1. Dura mater - • 2. Arachnoid -
strong, "Tough mother" spidery, holds blood
a. Falx cerebri vessels
b. Falx cerebelli
c. Tentorium cerebelli
• 3. Pia mater -
d. Diaphragma sella
"delicate mother"
TheMeninges
1) Falxcerebri
2) Tentorium
cerebelli
4) Diaphragma sellae
3) Falx
cerebelli
Sagittal section showing the duramater
1) Falxcerebri
2) Tentorium
cerebelli
Superior view showing the duramater
DURAMATER
q Thick dense inelastic membrane
and the outermost layer of the
meninges
q Bilaminar:
§ Endosteal layer (outer)
§ Meningeal layer (inner)
These are closely united except
along certain lines, where they
separate to form venous sinuses.
DURAMATER
q Endosteal layer ;
o Periosteum - inner surface of the
skull bones
o Not continuous with dura mater
of spinal cord
q Meningeal layer ;
o Dura mater proper
o Covering the brain
o Continuous with dura mater of
spinal cord
o Folded inwards as 4 septa
between part of the brain
o The function of these septa is to
restrict the rotatory displacement
of the brain.
duramater
Superior
cerebral
veins
beneath
arachnoid
Superior sagittal sinus
(Dural venous sinus)
Dura mater
Endosteal layer
Meningeal layer
They are closely
united except along
certain lines; they
are separated to
form venous
sinuses
Subdural space
Coronal section of the upper part of the head
DURAMATER
Dura mater septa:
1. Falx cerebri
2. Falxcerebelli
3. Tentorium cerebelli
4. Diaphragma sella
1) Falxcerebri
2) Tentorium
cerebelli
4) Diaphragma sellae
3) Falx
cerebelli
Sagittal section showing the duramater
The FalxCerebri
• It is a sickle-shaped fold of dura
mater that lies in the midline
between the two cerebral
hemispheres.
• Its narrow end in front is attachedto
the internal frontal crest and the
crista galli.
• Its broad posterior part blends in the
midline with the upper surface of the
tentorium cerebelli.
• The superior sagittal sinus runs in its
upper fixed margin, the inferior
sagittal sinus runs in its lower
concave free margin, and the straight
sinus runs along its attachment to the
tentorium cerebelli.
Superior sagittal sinus Falx cerebri
Tentorium
cerebelli
Frontal crest
Crista galli
*
Inferior
sagittal sinus Straight
sinus
The Tentorium Cerebelli
• The tentorium cerebelli
is a crescent-shaped
fold of dura mater that
roofs over the posterior
cranial fossa.
• It covers the upper
surface of the
cerebellum and
supports the occipital
lobes of the cerebral
hemispheres.
Tentorium
cerebelli
Falx cerebri
The FalxCerebelli
• The falx cerebelli is a
small, sickle-shaped fold of
dura mater that is attached
to the internal occipital
crest and projects forward
between the two cerebellar
hemispheres.
• Its posterior fixed margin
contains the occipital sinus.
The Diaphragma Sellae
• The diaphragma sellae
is a small circular fold of
dura mater that forms
the roof for the sella
turcica.
• A small opening in its
center allows passage
of the stalk of the
pituitary gland
Dural Nerve Supply
• Branches of the trigeminal, vagus, and first
three cervical nerves and branches from the
sympathetic system pass to the dura.
• The dura is sensitive to stretching, which
produces the sensation of headache.
Dural Blood Supply
• Dural Arterial Supply • Dural Venous Drainage
• The dura mater’s arteries supply from • The meningeal veins lie in the
the internal carotid, maxillary, endosteal layer of dura.
ascending pharyngeal, occipital, and • The middle meningeal vein follow
vertebral arteries. the branches of the middle
• From a clinical standpoint, the meningeal artery and drains into
most important is the middle pterygoid venous plexus or the
• meningeal artery, which is commonly sphenoparietal sinus.
damaged in head injuries. • The veins lie lateral to the arterie
Arachnoid Mater
ü Delicate, impermeable &
avascular membrane covering the
brain
ü Lying between Pia mater
(internally) & dura
Mater(externally)
ü Separated from dura mater bya
potential space, the subdural
space (filled by a film of fluid)
ü Separated from pia mater bythe
subarachnoid space (filled with
CSF)
ü The outer and inner surfaces
covered with flattened
mesothelial cells
Superior
cerebral
veins
beneath
arachnoid
Arachnoid mater
Arachnoid mater
Arachnoid projects into venous
sinuses
- sites for CSFdiffuses into
bloodstream
Arachnoid
granulations
Arachnoid mater Arachnoid villi
Subarachnoid space Subdural space
SUBDURALSPACE:
• Superior cerebral Superior cerebral veins
beneath arachnoid
veins, traverse the
subdural space to reach
the superior sagittal
sinus and its lacunae
*
Dura
Arachnoid
Subdural haematoma
Subarachnoid Space (SP):
§ Relatively narrow over the surface of cerebral
hemisphere, but sometimes becomes much widerin
areas at the base of the brain, the widest space is
called subarachnoid cisterns
§ The cisterna cerebellomedularis lies between inferior
surface of the cerebellum and roof of4th ventricle
§ The cisterna interpeduncularis lies between 2cerebral
hemispheres. All the cisternae are in free
communication with one another & with the
remainder of subarachnoidspace
Superior
cistern
Chiasmatic
cistern
Interpeduncular
cistern
Pontine Cerebellomedullary cistern
cistern
Median sagittal section to show the subarachnoid cisterns &
circulation of CSF
Pia mater
Arachnoid
Dura
Subarachnoidhaemorrage
PiaMater
• Pia Mater is a vascular
membrane covered by
mesothelial cells.
• Closely invests the
brain, covering the
gyri, descending into
the deepest sulci &
closely applied to the
cortical surface.
Pia mater
Pia mater
PiaMater
§ It extends out over the cranial nerves & fuses
with their epineurium
§ The cerebral arteries entering the substance of
the brain, carry a sheath of pia mater with them
§ The pia mater forms the TELACHOROIDAE.
§ The tela choroidae fuse with ependyma to form
the choroid plexus
§ Choroid plexus forms CSF
Choroid plexus of
lateral ventricle
Ependyma
Pia mater of
tela choroidae
Choroid plexus
of 3rd ventricle
Coronal section of the interventricular foramen showing the choroid
plexus of 3rd & lateralventricles
