Blood Supply to Brain & Meninges Flashcards
What are the 3 meningeal coverings?
What are they and what do they cover?
- Dura mater
- Arachnoid mater
- Pia mater
They cover the CNS (brain and spinal cord) and act as protective air bags
What is the composition of the dura mater like?
It is a tough fibrous protective layer
There are two layers of dura:
- Outer periosteal layer that is tightly attached to the surface of the skull
- Inner meningeal layer that is in direct contact with the arachnoid mater
What is the composition of the arachnoid mater like?
It is a thin, delicate layer that looks like a spider-web
It is vasular
It does not follow the grooves of the brain so you cannot see sulci and gyri through this layer
What is the composition of the pia mater like?
it is a microscopically thin layer that is closely attached to the cortex of the brain
It follows the gyri and sulci (they are visible through this layer)
Label the 3 meningeal layers
Label the meningeal layers of the brain
What is significant about having two layers of dura?
This allows for dural infoldings only at specific areas
the inner meningeal layer comes away from the outer periosteal layer to form a dural fold
various venous dural sinuses are located within the dural infoldings
What is found within a dural sinus?
Venous blood
Superficial veins drain into the sinuses
CSF enters the sinuses and is reabsorbed into the venous system via arachnoid villi
What are the functions of CSF?
It is produced in the ventricular system of the brain and resembles plasma
It bathes the structures of the CNS (brain and spinal cord) and cushions them
It provides nutrients to the brain and spinal cord
It acts as a shock-absorber
Where is the sub-arachnoid space and what is located within it?
It is between the arachnoid mater and the pia mater
It contains cerebrospinal fluid and blood vessels
What is shown in this image?
What is the purpose of the arachnoid villi?
They are protrusions of the arachnoid mater into the dural layer
Diffusion across the arachnoid granulations into the superior sagittal sinus returns CSF to the venous circulation
What are the 3 main dural folds?
Where are they located?
Falx cerebri:
- crescent shaped fold of dura
- located in the Sagittal plane between the right and left hemispheres
Tentorium cerebelli:
- located between the occipital and temporal lobes and the cerebellum
Falx cerebelli:
- located between the cerebellar hemispheres
What is located within the dural infoldings?
Venous dural sinuses
The main ones are the superior sagittal sinus and the transverse sinus
Label the dural folds and sinuses
Label the dural folds
What are the 2 sites of attachment of falx cerebri?
Anterior attachment:
- crista gali of the ethmoid bone
Posterior attachment:
- occipital bone
What is the relationship between the periosteal and meningeal layers of dura?
They are tightly fused together except at dural venous sinuses and various infoldings (reflections)
What are the 3 main reflections of the dura?
There are 2 large reflections of dura that extend into the cranial cavity:
- Between the cerebral hemispheres - falx cerebri
- Between the cerebrum and cerebellum - tentorium cerebelli
There is a smaller reflection of dura between the cerebellar hemispheres - falx cerebelli
Where is the sub-dural space located?
The space between the arachnoid and the dura
This is a very thin potential space
The dura is tightly attached to the arachnoid, but a space could be created if a vessel was to rupture
Label the meninges of the spinal cord
What is the purpose of the denticulate ligaments?
They are lateral extensions of the pia
They anchor the spinal cord to the arachnoid mater on either side
As the arachnoid is already tightly anchored to the dura, this prevents excessive movement of the spinal cord
What is the difference in the dura in the spinal cord, compared to the brain?
It has NO periosteal component (only meningeal)
It is separated from the bone of the vertebrae by the epidural space
This is a real space, filled with fat
What is located between the pia and arachnoid of the spinal cord?
Subarachnoid space
This is filled with cerebrospinal fluid
What is the difference between a ‘real’ and ‘potential’ space?
Potential space:
- A space between 2 adjacent structures which are usually tightly pressed together
Real space:
- A space which exists all the time
What are the real and potential cranial spaces?
Real spaces:
- subarachnoid space - contains CSF
Potential spaces:
- epidural space (between periosteal and meningeal layers of dura)
- subdural space (between arachnoid and dura)
Why is the cranial epidural and subdural space called a potential space?
Subdural:
- can be opened by the separation of the dura from the arachnoid
Epidural:
- can be opened by the separation of the 2 layers of the dura
This happens due to trauma or pathological processes
What are the real and potential spaces in the spinal cord?
real spaces:
- epidural space - contains fat
- subarachnoid space - contains CSF
potential spaces:
- subdural space (between arachnoid and dura)
What are the 2 pairs of arteries that supply the brain?
How are they connected?
Vertebral arteries and internal carotid arteries
They are connected by the circle of Willis at the base of the brain