Embryology Meninges And Ventricular System Flashcards
Definition of meninges
Series of CT layers that surround the brain and spinal cord to protect them. We find 3 layers:
● Dura mater
● Arachnoid mater
● Pia mater
Origin of the meninges
Mesoderm and neural crest cells
(mesenchymal: NCC will form the mesenchyme that surrounds the spinal cord and brain as they develop, forming the meninges)
Dura mater developes from
Ectomeninx
Pia and arachnoid mater develope from
Endomeninx
Location dura mater
Encasing the brain and continuous with the same dural sac that encloses the spinal cord
What nerve is encased by the dura mater?
Optic nerve (it may become compressed when pressure increases in the brain, as neither dura mater nor the skull are distensible)
Artery that irrigates the meninges and gives branches in the cranium.
Middle meningeal artery
Course of the middle meningeal artery
In between bone and dura mater to supply meninges and bone; its branches make impressions on the calvaria
Difference cranial dura mater and spinal dura mater
Cranial dura has 2 layers and spinal dura has only 1
Layers of cranial dura
Outer periosteal layer: lines the cranium internally and become continuous with the periosteum at the foramen magnum.
Inner meningeal layer: continuous with the dural sac, creates venous sinuses (forms 2 layer reflections) and septa (formed by 2 layers)
Cells in each dural layer
Periosteal layer: a few fibroblasts and is mostly fibers + contains the blood vessels
Meningeal dura: also has abundant collagen and more fibroblasts.
Dural border cell layer / Plane of structural weakness
Additional subyacent layer to meningeal and periosteal ones which is slightly different (slightly different fibroblasts) and is in contact with meningeal layer.
Hemorrhage: blood leakes in this area —> dissects the 2 upper layers from arachnoid —> Subdural space can be formed = new pathological space (dura - arachnoid)
Dural reflections or septa
Falx cerebri
Falx cerebelli
Tentorium cerebeli
Diaphragm sellae
Falx cerebri: plane, attachment, location
Sagittal plane
Attached to Crista galli
Dura extends from anterior to posterior and partially separates both hemispheres
Falx cerebelli: plane, location
Sagittal plane
Separates the lobes of cerebellum
Tentorium cerebeli: plane, location, shape
Horizontal plane
Separates the brain and cerebellum
Triangular shape
Diaphragm sellae: location
Separates the infundibulum from the gland itself, covering the sella turcica
Venous sinuses definition
Space left as the meningeal dura invaginates to form the reflections, through which venous blood flows along, towards the jugular vein.
Dura mater vs brain parenchyma innervation
Dura mater is very innervated by sensory fiber (acute pain)
Brain parenchyma barely has any innervation (doesn’t hurt)
Cranial dura mater innervation
V1 (ophthalmic nerve branches: branches from ant ethmoidal nerves & tentorial nerve)
V2 and V3 meningeal branches
C2 and C3 branches
V1(branches of ophthalmic nerve) innervates…
Falx cerebri anteriorly (ant ethmoidal nerves branches).
Falx cerebri posteriorly (Tentorial nerve)
V2 and V3 meningeal branches innervates…
Middle cranial fossa region (neuronal bodies in trigeminal ganglion)
Branches of C2 and C3 innervates…
Inf post cranial fossa (penetrate via jugular canal, foramen magnum,… but belong to cervical level —> body in dorsal root ganglia)
Dural venous sinuses
Superior longitudinal/sagittal sinus (SSS)
Inferior longitudinal/sagittal sinus (ISS)
Straight venous sinus
Transverse venous sinus
Cavernous sinus
What drains into superior longitudinal/sagital sinus (SSS)?
Veins from falx cerebri
Veins from falx cerebri drain into
Superior longitudinal/sagittal (SSS) sinus
What drains into straight venous sinus?
Deep cerebral veins (Great cerebral vein or vena de galeno)