Anatomy · MU Sofia

CNS · 171. Cranial dura mater. Dural venous sinuses.

Covers the two layers of the cranial dura mater, the endosteal and meningeal layers, and the dural folds (falx cerebri, falx cerebelli, tentorium cerebelli, diaphragma sellae) with a comparison table of their sites and attachments. It then describes the arterial and nerve supply of the dura by cranial fossa, the middle meningeal artery in detail, the venous drainage into dural venous sinuses, and lists the paired and single sinuses.

Inside: 7 sections · 5 labelled pictures · 3 tables · 10 flashcards · 6 min

Topic 156 of 264 in the MU Sofia syllabus for Anatomy (Dental Medicine, Year 2). The free AceMed note covers it in 7 sections, about 585 words (6 min of reading), with 10 flashcards.

In this note

  1. 171 CRANIAL DURA MATER
  2. Dura mater layers :
  3. Dural folds:
  4. Aterial Supply of the cranial dura:
  5. Venous drainage of the cranial cavity :
  6. Dural venous sinuses:
  7. Nerve supply of the cranial dura :

171 CRANIAL DURA MATER

Brain and Spinal cord are enclosed in 3 membranous (meninges):

  • Dura mater
  • Arachnoid
  • Pia

Dura mater layers :

  • It is dense, fibrous, inelastic membrane
  • It is formed by 2 layers:
  1. 1. Endosteal layer : - It is the periosteum, lining the inside of the Skull.
  • It can be called ( endocranium)
  • * Through skull sutures & foramina , it is continous with the periosteum covering the outer surface of the skull (pericranium).
  1. 2. Meningeal layer: It is the inner layer of the cranial dura (in close contact with arachnoid mater)
  • It is called the dura matter proper.
  • It is continous with the spinal dura at the foramen magnum.

* The two layers are adherent to each other except when the inner meningeal layer tends to form dural fold, and when there is a dural sinus between the two layers.

Dural folds:

They are septa (حواجز) formed by the inner meningeal layer of the dura.

N.B!

  • The free margin of tentorium cerebelli crosses the attached margin at the apex of the petrous temporal bone. 3ʳᵈ and 4ᵗʰ cranial nerves (oculomotor and trochlear) pierce the dura at this area in their way to the cavernous sinus (see later).
  • The inferior layer of tentorium cerebelli forms the trigeminal cave, an invagination containing the roots and the ganglion of the trigeminal nerve (5ᵗʰ cranial nerve).
  • Dural folds have a role in protection and support of the brain against sudden movements. They also cover important structures (pituitary gland).

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