bbb and csf Flashcards
what are the 3 layers of the cerebral meninges?
dura
arachnoid
pia
where is the dura?
adjacent to the skull and attached to the skull in places
what are the layers of the dura?
periosteal and meningeal
what is the dura made of?
collagen - makes it thick and strong
where is the arachnoid?
presses against inner surface of dura
what are the layers of the arachnoid?
2 layers – outer compact layer of “barrier” cells and inner “trabecular” meshwork
where is the pia?
thin membrane tightly attached to basement lamina of the brain
where are veins found in the brain?
in the inner layer of the dura which cross between dura and arachnoid
where are blood vessels found in the brain?
in the dura and subarachnoid space
what are the 3 types of cerebral haemorrhage?
epidural
subdural
subarachnoid
what is an epidural haemorrhage?
bleeding outside the dura, usually arterial
how does an epidural haemorrhage present and why?
o May be no symptoms at first
o Minutes/hours later there’s a headache bc the hematoma compresses the brain
what is a subdural haemorrhage?
bleeding between dura and arachnoid, usually venous.
which vessels does a subdural haemorrhage involve?
normally involves the bridging veins
how do subdural haemorrhages present and why?
o Bc it’s venous the onset of symptoms is slow (24 hours)
what is a subarachnoid haemorrhage?
bleeding into the arachnoid space (between the pia and the arachnoid), usually arterial
what causes a subarachnoid haemorrhage?
ruptured arterial aneurysm (a type of stroke)
what are the symptoms of subarachnoid haemorrhage?
sudden severe headache – “thunderclap headache”
what is a subarachnoid haemorrhage similar to?
intracranial haemorrhage
how does an epidural bleed present on an MRI?
has a lens shape on an MRI
rapidly increasing in size bc its arterial
what can cause an epidural bleed?
acute skull trauma
what symptom helps in the diagnosis of an epidural bleed?
lucid interval
what is a lucid interval?
when patients regain consciousness. After this interval they descend suddenly and rapidly into unconsciousness
how does a subdural bleed present on an MRI?
• Similar MRI appearance to epidural bleed but more spread out
how is an epidural bleed treated? what is the consequence of slow treatment?
surgical intervention
death
what can cause a subdural bleed?
• Caused by rapid acceleration/deceleration of the head which moved brain relative to the skull – e.g. in road traffic accident
what are symptoms of a subdural bleed?
confusion, headache, vomiting
what is the falx?
a sheet formed by the dura extending down between the hemispheres
Runs antero-posteriorly, dividing the 2 hemispheres
how does the falx make a t-juction?
Falx makes a t-junction at the occipital pole with the tentorium cerebelli
what is the tentorium cerebelli?
pair of approximately transverse sheets of dura that extend laterally below the base of the occipital cerebrum – divide the cerebrum from the cerebellum below