Cranial Vault, Dura

Question 1

What are the layers of the scalp, in order?

Answer 1

Skin, connective tissue (contains vessels), aponeurosis (epicranial), loose connective tissue, pericranium (specific type of periosteum). SCALP

Question 2

What arteries make an anastomosis in the scalp?

Answer 2

The internal and external carotid aa.

Question 3

Scalp Danger Zone: Which infection type is more likely to cause intracranial infection? How?

Answer 3

Infections DEEP to epicranial aponeurosis more likely, through emissary veins they gain access to the cranial vault. Infections superficial to the epicranial aponeurosis are less likely to cause intracranial infection.

Question 4

Where does the middle meningeal artery enter the skull?

Answer 4

Through the foramen spinosum

Question 5

What are leptomeninges?

Answer 5

The pia mater and arachnoid mater

Question 6

What does the dura mater adhere to?

Answer 6

Adheres to the INSIDE surface of cranial vault

Question 7

Contents of epidural space.

Answer 7

A potential space that contains the middle meningeal aa.

Question 8

Contents of subdural space

Answer 8

Potential space containing bridging veins (check)

Question 9

contents of subarachnoid space

Answer 9

Actual space containing CSF, most of major brain aa and veins.

Question 10

Contents of epidural space in spinal cord?

Answer 10

Fat and internal vertebral venous plexuses. The spinal cord epidural space is a real space.

Question 11

What separates the left and right hemispheres of the cerebrum, and comes off the dura mater?

Answer 11

The falx cerebri

Question 12

What is the anterior attachment of the falx cerebri?

Answer 12

The crista galli.

Question 13

What layer separates the cerebellum from the cerebrum, in the transverse plane?

Answer 13

The tentorium cerebelli

Question 14

What does the diaphragma sellae do?

Answer 14

separates the brain from the pituitary

Question 15

What two layers of dura split to form the dural sinus? Which layer is deeper?

Answer 15

The periosteal layer and the meningeal layer. periosteal layer is deeper.

Question 16

What two functions do the dural sinuses serve? to where?

Answer 16

They drain venous blood from the brain to the internal jugular vv. They drain CSF from brain as well.

Question 17

What are the 6 dural sinuses? (plus confluence of sinuses). what drains them?

Answer 17

superior sagittal sinus- drains into confluence
inferior sagittal sinus- drains into straight sinus
straight sinus- drains into the confluence of sinus
transverse sinus- drains into sigmoid sinus
sigmoid sinus- drains into internal jugular veins
cavernous sinus

Question 18

what is associated with the cavernous sinus, and where?

Answer 18

3, 4, v1, v2, 6 O TOM CAS
In wall of sinus: “O TOM” CN 3, 4, v1, v2 (occulomotor, trochlear, opthalmic div, mandibular div)
within sinus itself: CAS (internal carotid a., CN VI, sympathetics nervous system fibers)

Question 19

The cavernous sinus sits where? What other veins drain into it? A cavernous sinus thrombus would affect what then?

Answer 19

on either side of the sella turcica. The opthalmic veins also drain into it. A thrombus would paralyze the eye.

Question 20

The basilar venous plexus connects what? Where is it? clinical correlate?

Answer 20

The internal vertebral venous plexus with various sinuses. it sits on the clivus. Allows spread of metastases and infections between brain, spine/trunk.

Question 21

What does the vertebral artery travel through? What do they make eventually?

Answer 21

Through the transverse foramina of the first 6 cervical vertebrae, and through the foramen magnum. They come together to make the basilar artery.

Question 22

4 segments of internal carotid artery?

Answer 22

1. cervical segment (in neck)
2. petrous segment (in carotid canal)
3. cavernous segment (in cavernous sinus)
4. cerebral segment (after sinus)

Question 23

where is the anterior br of the middle meningeal artery?

Answer 23

Deep to the pterion.