ANA 303 Meninges, Synapses & Blood Supply To The Brain Flashcards
The cranial meninges are composed of 3 membranous connective tissue layers namely:
Dura mater (dura): tough, thick external fibrous layer
Arachnoid mater (arachnoid): thin intermediate layer
Pia mater (pia): delicate internal vasculated layer
Dura mater is also called the__________
pachymeninx
The dura mater is adherent to the internal table of the_________
calvaria
Layers of the dura mater
external periosteal layer
an internal meningeal layer
what is the epidural space?
The internal meningeal layer is intimately fused with the external periosteal layer, but separation can occur pathologically creating an actual (blood or fluid filled) space
The____________forms dural infoldings which divide the cranial cavity into compartments, forming partial partitions (dural septa) between certain parts of the brain
internal meningeal layer
list the dural infoldings of the internal meningeal layer
Cerebral falx (falx cerebri)
Cerebellar tentorium ( tentorium cerebelli)
Cerebellar falx ( falx cerebelli)
Sellar diaphragm (diaphragma sellae)
Describe the falx cerebri (shape, size and location)
is a sickle shape structure
the largest dural infolding
lies in the longitudinal cerebral fissure and separates the right and left cerebral hemispheres
Attachments of falx cerebri
Anteriorly: median plane from the frontal crest of the frontal bone and crista galli of the ethmoid bone
posteriorly: to the internal occipital protuberance
Boundaries of the cerebri falx
The superior sagittal sinus runs in its upper fixed margin
the inferior sagittal sinus runs in its lower concave free margin
It ends by becoming continuous with the cerebellar tentorium
and the straight sinus runs along its attachment to the tentorium cerebelli
Discuss the size and shape of the Cerebellar tentorium
the 2nd largest dural infolding
is a wide crescentic septum
Cerebellar tentorium separates the__________ from the cerebellum
occipital lobes of the cerebral hemispheres
Cerebellar tentorium it covers the____________ and supports the occipital lobe
upper surface of the cerebellum
The cerebellar tentorium divides__________
the cranial cavity into supratentorial and infratentorial compartments
The supratentorial compartment is divided into right and left halves by the__________
cerebral falx
Describe the Cerebellar falx and its role
is a vertical dural infolding that lies inferior to the cerebellar tentorium in the posterior part of the posterior cranial fossa
It is attached to the internal occipital crest
partially separates the cerebellar hemispheres
Describe the Sellar Diaphragm and its role
the smallest dural infolding
is a circular sheet of dura that is suspended between the clinoid processes
forms a partial roof over the hypophysial fossa in the sphenoid
The sellar diaphragm covers the pituitary gland in this fossa and has an aperture for passage of the infundibulum and hypophysial veins
The arterial supply to the dura mater travels in the_________ of the dura
outer periosteal layer
The arterial supply to the dura mater consists of:
- anterior meningeal arteries in the anterior cranial fossa
- middle and
- accessory meningeal arteries in the middle cranial fossa
- posterior meningeal artery and other meningeal branches in the posterior cranial fossa
All are small arteries except for the__________
middle meningeal artery which is much larger
Which artery supplies the greatest part of the dura?
middle meningeal artery
The anterior meningeal arteries are branches of the___________
ethmoidal arteries
The middle meningeal artery is a branch of the __________
maxillary artery
The middle meningeal artery enters the middle cranial fossa through the_____________
divides into;
foramen spinosum
anterior branch
posterior branch
Describe the Venous drainage of the dura, particularly the m.m.a and where it drains
The veins of the dura accompany the meningeal arteries
The middle meningeal veins accompany the middle meningeal artery, leave the cranial cavity through the foramen spinosum and drain into the pterygoid venous plexus
Describe the innervation of the dura in the anterior cranial fossa
meningeal branches from the ethmoidal nerves (branches of the ophthalmic nerve [V1]) supply______________
the floor and the anterior part of the falx cerebri
Additionally a meningeal branch of the ophthalmic nerve [V1] supply____________
the tentorium cerebelli and the posterior part of the falx cerebri
Describe the innervation of the middle cranial fossa
the middle cranial fossa is supplied
medially by meningeal branches from the maxillary nerve [V2]
laterally by meningeal branches from the mandibular nerve [V3]