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Block 5 > Cranial Cavity > Flashcards

Cranial Cavity Flashcards

1
Q

What type of vein connects the intracranial venous sinuses with veins outside the cranium?

A

Emissary veins (“messenger” veins)

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2
Q

The inner spongy layer of the skull contains…

A

diploic veins and red bone marrow

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3
Q

What is the clinical significance of emissary veins?

A

Spread of infection through the venous system can cause meningitis due to the connection between extra-cranial veins and intra-cranial sinuses.

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4
Q

Name the 3 meninges of the brain.

A

Dura Mater
Arachnoid
Pia

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5
Q

The dura is subdivided into what 2 layers?

A
  1. Outer periosteal (endocranium) that’s intimately related to the inner surface of the cranial bones. It forms the periosteum.
  2. Inner meningeal layer
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6
Q

What are the two major specializations of the Dura Mater?

A

venous sinuses and dural partitions

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7
Q

Name the 4 Dural Partitions

A

1- Falx Cerebri
2- Tentorium Cerebelli
3- Falx Cerebelli
4- Diaphragme Sellae

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8
Q

Name the attachments of the Falx Cerebri

A

Crista Galle, internal occipital protuberance.

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9
Q

What is housed within the Falx Cerebri?

A

The superior sagittal sinus and the inferior sagittal sinus.

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10
Q

What does the falx cerebra separate?

A

The two cerebral hemispheres

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11
Q

The inferior free margin of the Falx Cerebri rests on top of what?

A

The corpus callosum

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12
Q

Paired horizontal partitions covering the top of the cerebellar hemispheres are called….

A

Tentorium cerebelli

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13
Q

Name the attachments of the tentorium cerebelli

A

Anterior: posterior clinoid process
Lateral: Temporal bone
Posteriorly: Occipital bone and transverse sinus

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14
Q

What sinuses do the tentorium cerebelli give rise to?

A

The transverse sinuses

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15
Q

The point where the falx cerebri and temtorium cerebelli meet is called…..

What do they join to form?

A

The confluence of sinuses.

They meet to form the Straight Sinus.

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16
Q

The falx cerebelli attaches where and runs between what?

A

The falx cerebelli runs between the two cerebellar hemispheres and attaches to the inner surface of the occipital bone and extends into the posterior cerebellar notch.

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17
Q

What sinus is directly superior to the falx cerebelli?

A

The straight sinus

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18
Q

The single circular partition of the dura that form the roof of the pituitary gland is called what?

A

The diaphragma sellae (“cover of the saddle”)

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19
Q

To what does the diaphragma sellae attach?

A

The hypophyseal fossa

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20
Q

Where is the cavernous sinus located?

A

Within the Middle Cranial Fossa, lateral to the pituitary gland.

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21
Q

The cavernous sinus has two posterior communications. They are?

A

The superior and inferior petrosal sinuses

22
Q

Why is the diaphragma sellae and incomplete roof?

A

To allow the stalk of the pituitary gland to reach the

hypothalamus.

23
Q

Blood and CSF drained by the dural sinuses leaves the cranium via….

A

Internal Jugular veins

24
Q

What type of veins communicate between the brain matter and the dural sinuses?

A

cerebral and cerebellar veins

25
Q

Diploic and emissary veins from the scalp communicate with what sinus?

A

Superior Sagittal sinus

26
Q

What is the most common entry for meningitis infections?

A

The confluence of diploic and emissary veins from the scalp into the superior sagittal sinus. Bacteria can easily access this point through a deep wound.

27
Q

Mastoid and condyloid emissary veins communicate with what sinus?

A

Sigmoid sinuses.

28
Q

The cavernous sinuses communicate with each other through…..

A

The inter cavernous sinus.

29
Q

Name the 4 connections of the cavernous sinuses.

A
  1. Intercavernous sinus
  2. Opthalmic Veins
  3. Veins of the deep face (Pterygoid plexus)
  4. Superior/Inferior Petrosal sinsuses
30
Q

The dura receives most of its blood supply from….

A

The Middle Meningeal Artery

31
Q

Name the main clinical significance of the middle meningeal artery.

A

Headaches!!! And injured in skullfractures

32
Q

The middle meningeal arteries ascend through what hole on either side of the head and run where?

A

The Foramen Spinosum - then they run between the skull and the periosteal part of the dura, forming a groove in the skull.

33
Q

WHere does the nervous innervation to the meninges come from?

A

Sensory from all 3 parts of the Trigeminal Nerve, and the middle meningeal nerve, a branch from V3 (mandibular)

34
Q

WTF is the Pterion?

A

The anatomical “temple”.

Site of extradural hematomas due to the close proximity of the middle miningeal artery.

35
Q

What bones meet at the Pterion?

A

Sphenoid, Parietal, Frontal, and Temporal.

36
Q

What is contained within the Pia mater?

A

Extensive network of blood vessels supplying the brain

37
Q

Together, the Pia andn Arachnoid Mater are known as…..

A

The Leptomeninges.

38
Q

What is contained within the subarachnoid space?

A
  • CSF

- Arachnoid Trabeculae (spiderweb fibers)

39
Q

CSF drains into the dural sinuses via….

A

Arachnoid Villi -stalk-like extensions connecting the arachnoid space and dural sinuses.

40
Q

True/False: The Arachnoid Mater is Avascular.

A

True. NO VASCULATURE

41
Q

The arachnoid villi bunch together to form______ around the superior sagittal sinus.

A

Arachnoid granulations

42
Q

Where is an extradermal hematoma located? Describe them.

A
  • between the skull and the periosteal dura
  • often localized due to adherence to skull and pressure from brain tissue underneath.
  • Results from meningeal artery ruptures
43
Q

Where is a subdural hematoma located? Describe one.

A
  • between the dura and arachnoid maters.

- Results from tearing of cerebral or emissary veins as they ether venous sinuses

44
Q

Describe a subarachnoid hemorrhage.

A

in the subarachnoid space, caused by cerebral lacerations or the tearing of cerebral arteries.
Sudden onset- huge headache

45
Q

How do you diagnose a brain hemorrhage?

A

CT scans

46
Q

Why would you use a lumbar puncture to differentiate a subarachnoid hemorrhage from others?

A

There would be blood that came out with the CSF.

47
Q

What lobe/lobes of the brain are contained in:
A. Anterior Fossa
B. Middle Fossa
C. Posterior Fossa (3)

A

A. Frontal Lobe
B. Temporal Lobe
C. Occipital lobe, cerebellum, and brainstem

48
Q

The internal carotid artery courses through part of what sinus? What else courses through this sinus?

A

The cavernous sinus near the pituitary gland

Also contains several cranial nerves.

49
Q

Describe the course of the Internal Carotid artery in relation to the cavernous sinus.

A

1- Enters the base of the skull via Carotid Canal
2- Travels anteriorly and horizontally within the carotid canal to enter the cranial vault via the intracranial opening of the carotid canal
3- Runs superiorly through the CAVERNOUS SINUS, forming an S-SHAPED BEND (thrombosis risks)

50
Q

What cranial nerves course along the LATERAL borders of each Cavernous sinus?

A

3- Occulomotor
4- Trochlear
5- Trigeminal - V1 and V2

51
Q

What’s the other random nerve that courses through the cavernous sinus, adjacent to the internal carotid artery?

A

6- Abducens N.

Block 5 (10 decks)

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