Meninges and dural venous sinuses Flashcards
What are the three layers of meninges?
- Dura mater (pachymeninx)
- Arachnoid mater (leptomeninx)
- Pia mater (also part of the leptomeninges)
Where is the subarachnoid space?
between the arachnoid and pia
What is the subarachnoid space filled with?
cerebrospinal fluid
What two things is the dura mater theoretically ‘divided’ into? Why is this only theoretical?
- endosteal layer (periosteum on inner surface of skull)
- meningeal layer
only theoretical because one the whole they’re fused except for where they separate to form dural venous sinuses and dural folds
What are the only places where the endosteal layer and meningeal layer of the dura mater separate?
dural venous sinuses and dural folds
What are dural folds?
connective tissue septae that extend into the cranial cavity and serve to subdivide it into compartments
What function is served by the dural folds?
in association with CSF, they aid in providing physical support and protection for the brain
What are the dural venous sinuses?
valveless, highly specialised firm-walled veins within the cranial cavity that drain venous blood from the brain and cranial bones
What are 2 key features of the walls of the dural venous sinuses?
- sinuses are lined by vascular endothelial cells (like other veins)
- walls contain no smooth muscle cells (unlike other veins)
Label the following dural venous sinuses:
- superior sagittal sinus
- inferior sagittal sinus
- transverse sinus
- sigmoid sinus
- straight sinus
- superior petrosal sinus
- cavernous sinus
Where are the cavernous sinuses located?
lie either side of the body of the sphenoid. sinus extends from the superior orbital fissure in front to the apex of the petrous temporal bone behind
What is the importance of the cavernous sinuses?
position, relations and extensive communications
How big are the cavernous sinuses and what do they consist of?
each is 2-3 cm long in the sagittal plane
consist of a series of incompletely fused venous channels or single venous channel partially subdivided by trabeculae
What is the wall of the cavernous sinuses?
dura mater (like other venous sinsues)
What are 5 structures that pass through the cavernous sinuses?
- oculomotor nerve III
- trochlear nerve IV
- Ophthalmic nerve V1
- Abducent nerve VI (most medial, in sinus)
- Maxillary nerve (V2)
How does the cavernous sinuses communicate with each other?
via anterior and posterior intercavernous sinuses
What are 4 tributaries which drain into the cavernous sinuses?
- anteriorly: superior ophthalmic veins and inferior ophthalmic veins
- sphenoparietal sinuses - anteriorly
- superficial middle cerebral vein - drains from brain into the sinus from above
What do the superior and inferior ophthalmic veins drain blood from?
eye and orbit, skin around periorbital region of face and nose
Where may blood drain from the cavernous sinuses? 2 options
- via superior and inferior petrosal sinuses directly into internal jugular veins (inferior petrosal) OR
- via superior and inferior petrosal sinuses to the transverse sinuses and thus to the internal jugular veins
other exits include venous plexi around the internal carotid artery or veins traversing the foramen ovale or sphenoidal emissary foramen to communicate with the pterygoid plexus and other veins in the region of the skull base
What can cause the path that blood drains out of the cavernous sinuses to vary?
depends on relative pressures
How can communications between the cavernous sinuses and the vertebral venous plexus in the epidural space exist?
via basilar venous plexus on the clivus
What are 2 conditions that demonstrate hte importance of the cloes relationship of the internal carotid within the cavernous sinuses?
- cavernous sinus thrombosis
- arteriovenous fistulas