Oct9 M1-CNS Gross Anatomy Flashcards
(IMP) meninges anat
surface to inside
- dura mater: thick, white layer, consistency of leather
- arachnoid mater: thin, semi-transparent. if present, obscures the sulci
- pia mater: thin, transparent, not visible on gross inspection, covers the gyri and surrounds blood vessels as they penetrate the brain
subarachnoid space def
space between the arachnoid mater and the pia mater
leptomeninges def
pia mater + subarachnoid space + arachnoid mater.
- arachnoid projects subarachnoid trabeculae across the subarachnoid space to contact the pia. (white shiny appearance)
- will say leptomeningeal disease
pachymeninges def
dura mater
two layers of the dura mater
outer periosteal layer of dura (tightly attached to bone) and inner meningeal layer of dura (loosely attached to arachnoid)
- stuck together at most places
- not stuck together at midline on top of head
two potential spaces in the meninges (related to the dura)
- epidural space = between skull and outer periosteal layer of dura
- subdural space = between inner meningeal layer of dura and arachnoid
- NONE OF THESE IS THE SPACE BETWEEN THE TWO LAYERS OF DURA*
pathologies of epidural space
epidural hematoma
- one of the meningeal aa is damaged
- blood accum in the epidural space
pathologies of subdural space
subdural hematoma
- a blood vessel is damaged, usually a VEIN
- blood accum there
dural projections def
- periosteal and meningeal layers separate to make a projection
- the meningeal layer goes to make a projection by following the brain
(IMP) 2 main dural projections
- falx cerebri
- tentorium cerebelli
(IMP) falx cerebri def
inner meningeal layer projects between the two hemispheres at the midline on top of head
creates a vertical piece of dura in the cranial cavity
(IMP) tentorium cerebelli def
horizontal piece of dura from inner meningeal layer projecting between brain and cerebellum
- creates a horizontal ‘‘tent’’ of dura, the cerebellum is under it*
- tentorium adheres to the skull on both sides*
(IMP) clinical importance of the dural projections
increased ICP as in a tumor can cause part of the brain to be pushed down the falx and to ther other hemisphere or down past the tentorium
- sub-falcine herniation
- trans-tentorial herniation
(IMP) dural venous sinuses def
when the two layers of dura separate to form real spaces called dural venous sinuses (as in midline on top of head)
(IMP) superior sagittal sinus def
dural venous sinus in midline on top of head
how blood is drained from the dural venous sinuses
veins carrying blood away from the brain will take the blood from the dural venous sinuses
- there are veins that drain in the venous sinuses
- the venous sinuses then drain in the internal jugular vv
other example of dural venous sinus (other than superior sagittal sinus)
cavernous sinus
big hole in bottom of skull in the back
foramen magnum
how cavernous sinus relates to the pituitary gland
- pituitary sits in small depression of the sphenoid bone of the skull called the sella turcica
- the optic chiasm is on top of it
- under the pit, there is bone covered by dura mater on top + on the sides
- cavernous sinuses = the dural venous sinuses on both sides of this bone
what creates the cavernous sinus
the inner meningeal layer of the dura detaches from other periosteal layer of dura (which stays stuck to sphenoid bone in the bottom) and goes upwards medially
CNs relating to cavernous sinus
III, IV, V and VI
landmark separating the two hemispheres on top of the brain
longitudinal fissure (is the midline fissure)
bumps and depressions of the folds of the brain
- bump = gyrus
- depression = sulcus
vertex of the head def
the upper part of the head and the brain
falx cerebri appearance on axial CT images of vertex vs base of brain
the fax cerebri starts on top of brain and ends at some distance after projection goes between the hemispheres. bc the brain has a curved shape, it follows this shape and ends a bit lower in the back and in the front of the cranial cavity
- vertex = one continuous line
- base of brain = in front and in back of brain only
para-falcine meningioma def
tumor of the meninges near the falx cerebri
(IMP) lobes of the cortex
- frontal lobe (frontal half)
- parietal lobe (two thirds of the posterior half (starting from middle on top)
- occipital (last third of posterior half, in the very back)
- temporal lobe (laterally on both sides) so have TWO temporal lobes
- cerebellum lies under the brain in the back, under back of temporal and front of occipital lobes*
- limbic lobe (cingulate gyrus) = band right under frontal lobe and parietal lobe
(IMP) major sulci of the LATERAL surface of the cerebral cortex
- central sulcus (Rolandic fissure) between frontal and parietal lobes
- Sylvian fissure (lateral sulcus) between frontal/parietal and temporal underneath (is almost horizontal)