Brain and Meninges

Question 1

SCALP

Answer 1

skin
connective tissue (dense)
aponeurotic layer
loose areolar tissue
periosteum

Question 2

Connective tissue has…

Answer 2

blood vessels and nervous tissue

Question 3

Dura mater

Answer 3

tough, outer covering of the brain

Question 4

periosteal layer

Answer 4

firmly attached to the skull

Question 5

meningeal layer

Answer 5

in close contact with the arachnoid mater

Question 6

arachnoid mater

Answer 6

thin, avascular membrane, enters the longitudinal fissure (between cerebral hemispheres)

Question 7

pia mater

Answer 7

(faithful) thin, delicate membrane, closely invests surface of the brain and roots of the cranial nerves.

Question 8

Trabeculae

Answer 8

Tissue material that extends downward and becomes continuous with the pia mater.

Question 9

Arachnoid granulations

Answer 9

small projections of arachnoid mater through the dura mater, CSF drainage.

Question 10

Meningitis

Answer 10

Infection of the leptomeninges (pia mater and arachnoid mater). It is usually viral, but there is also bacterial and fungal. Viral is less harmful.

Question 11

Symptoms of meningitis

Answer 11

headache, fever, drowsiness, nausea, stiff neck; later photophobia, ecchymosis (rash), seizures

Question 12

Subarachnoid space

Answer 12

between arachnoid and pia, the only normally occuring space associated with the meninges. Contains CSF and blood vessels.

Question 13

Extradural (epidural) space

Answer 13

Potential space between periosteal layer of dura mater and skull.

Question 14

Subdural space

Answer 14

POTENTIAL space between meningeal layer of dura mater and arachnoid mater.

Question 15

Extradural (epidural) hemorrhage

Answer 15

1. Middle meningeal artery – usually from a blow at the pterion.
2. Surgical drainage, craniotomy. Least common type but likelihood of recovery is high.
3. Pool between bone and dura.

Question 16

Subdural

Answer 16

1. Pool between dura and arachnoid
2. Bridging vv. (shaken baby) or falls in the elderly (cerebral atrophy –> stretched, weaker bridging veins).
3. Symptoms can be very slow to appear and likelihood of recovery is lower.