Meninges Flashcards
What meningeal coverings are a part of the leptomeninges?
Arachnoid and pia mater
Generally, what is dura mater?
What’s its main fcn?
A thick connective tissue membrane that serves as the periosteum of the inside of the skull
- Main fcn is to suspend the brain (protect from trauma)
Explain the main layers of the dura mater.
Which contains the meningeal aa.?
What’s in b/w?
- Outer periosteal layer: firmly attached to skull; contains the meningeal aa.
- Inner meningeal layer: in close contact w/arachnoid and continuous w/spinal dura
- Dural venous sinuses
What is the space called b/w the dura and the cranium?
Trick- there is none (except in pathological conditions, then call it cranial epidural space)
What important things are contained in the spinal extradural space?
- Venous plexuses
- CT
What innervates the dura?
Anterior: CN V
Posterior: cervical nn. of cervical plexus
(this is a source of headaches)
Name and approximate the 4 main dural folds.
- Falx cerebri–vertically divides cerebrum
- Falx cerebelli–vertically divides cerebellum
- Tentorium cerebelli–horizontal tent over the cerebellum
- Diaphragma sellae–allows passage of pituitary stalk (pit sits beneath it)
What is the tentorial notch?
Exit pathway for the brainstem through the anterior tentorium cerebelli
What sinus is on the superior border of the falx cerebri?
Inferior border?
What connects them at their posterior ends?
- Superior sagittal sinus
- Inferior sagittal sinus
- Straight sinus
What sinus is at the falx cerebelli, against the occiput?
- Occipital sinus
- What are the dilated spaces at the external occipital protuberance?
- What are their horizontal extensions?
- What is the continuation of #2, into the IJV?
ConTraSig
- Confluence of sinuses
- R and L transverse sinuses
- R and L sigmoid sinuses
Where are the paired cavernous sinuses located?
What connects them?
- Lateral aspect of the body of the sphenoid
- Intercavernous sinus
What sinus runs along the inferior surface of the lesser wings of the sphenoid?
- Paired sphenoparietal sinuses
What sinuses run thru the petrous part of the temporal bone?
Which one ends at the IJV?
- Paired superior petrosal sinuses and paired inferior petrosal sinuses
- Inferiors ones end at IJV
(they come from cavernous sinus)
What sinus sits just posterior to the sella turcica of the sphenoid?
Basilar sinus
What do emissary vv. do?
What’s a pathology associated w/them?
- They connect the extracranial veins to the dural venous sinuses inside the cranium.
- Pathway for infection to spread from face/scalp to brain
Fcn of arachnoid trabeculae?
Suspends the brain
Where is CSF drained into?
Through what structures?
From where?
- Dural venous sinuses (to venous system)
- Arachnoid villi (clusters of villi = granulations)
- From: subarachnoid space