Meninges and Dural Folds

Question 1

What are the meninges?

Answer 1

Three membranous layers that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord

Question 2

What are the layers of the meninges?

Answer 2

Pia
Arachnoid
Dura

Question 3

What is the pia?

Answer 3

Microscopically thin layer that is adherent to the brain and continuous down the spinal cord

Question 4

What is the arachnoid?

Answer 4

Soft translucent membrane - continuous down spinal cord

Question 5

What is the dura?

Answer 5

Tough fibrous membrane that is ‘stuck’ to the skull

Question 6

What is the subarachnoid space?

Answer 6

Space between pia and arachnoid

Question 7

What is found in the subarachnoid space?

Answer 7

CSF

Cerebral vessels

Question 8

What are the layers of the dura?

Answer 8

Periosteal - part against inner table of bone

Meningeal - part adjacent to arachnoid

Question 9

Where do the layers of the dura separate?

Answer 9

Dural folds

Dural venous sinuses

Question 10

What are dural venous sinuses?

Answer 10

Spaces that are filled with venous blood created by separation of meningeal and periosteal dura

Question 11

What are the main dural folds?

Answer 11

Falx cerebri

Tentorium cerebelli

Question 12

What is the role of dural folds?

Answer 12

Help to stabilise the brain and act as a rigid divider

Question 13

Where to dural venous sinuses drain into?

Answer 13

Internal jugular vein

Question 14

What are the main dural venous sinuses?

Answer 14

Superior sagittal sinus 
Inferior sagittal sinus 
Straight sinus 
Transverse sinus 
Sigmoid sinus

Question 15

Where do all the dural venous sinuses meet?

Answer 15

Confluence of sinuses

Question 16

Draw out the dural venous sinuses

Answer 16

See lecture notes

Superior sagittal sinus follows falx cerebri
Inferior sagittal drains into straight
Transverse follows into sigmoid
Sigmoid drains in IJV

Question 17

Where to cerebral veins drain?

Answer 17

Into dural venous sinuses via bridging veins

Question 18

In what layers can blood accumulate in the skull?

Answer 18

Extradural
Subdural
Subarachnoid

Question 19

What is an extradural haemorrhage?

Answer 19

Arterial bleed - typically middle meningeal

Question 20

Where does blood accumulate in an extradural haemorrhage?

Answer 20

Between bone and dura

Crescent shaped bleed due to continuation of periosteum

Question 21

What is a subdural haemorrhage?

Answer 21

Venous bleed from bridging vein

Question 22

Where does blood accumulate in a subdural haemorrhage?

Answer 22

Between dura and arachnoid

Question 23

What is a subarachnoid haemorrhage?

Answer 23

Arterial bleed secondary to trauma or spontaneous rupture of a blood vessel

Question 24

Where does blood accumulate in a subarachnoid haemorrhage?

Answer 24

Subarachnoid space