Dural Sinuses, Meninges, and Vasculature

Question 1

What are the layers from skull to brain from outside in?

Answer 1

Cranium, dura mater, arachnoid mater, pia mater

Question 2

What layers are present in the dura mater?

Answer 2

Periosteal and meningeal

Question 3

Why are there areas of space found between the two layers of dura mater?

Answer 3

They separate to form large, blood-filled spaces called dural venous sinuses.

Question 4

What is the arachnoid mater comprised of?

Answer 4

Web of collagen and elastic fibers

Question 5

What is the web of fibers in arachnoid mater called?

Answer 5

Arachnoid trabeculae

Question 6

What type of tissue is pia mater?

Answer 6

Connective tissue

Question 7

What are extension of the meningeal layer of the dura mater that run deep into the cranial cavity called?

Answer 7

Cranial dural septa.

Question 8

What is the purpose of the cranial dural septa?

Answer 8

To separate specific parts of the brain and provide additional stabilization and support to the entire brain?

Question 9

How many dural septa are there?

Answer 9

4

Question 10

What are the names of the dural septa?

Answer 10

Falx cerebri
Falx cerebelli
Tentorium cerebelli
Diaphragma sellae

Question 11

What can happen if there is an infection that arises from the facial vein?

Answer 11

It can drain into the cavernous sinus and cause more problems, i.e. Periorbital edema, chemosis, CN VI palsy (lateral gaze), decreased visual acuity

Question 12

What artery supplies the meninges?

Answer 12

The maxillary artery?

Question 13

What arteries does the maxillary artery divide into in order to supply the meninges?

Answer 13

Middle meningeal artery —> Frontal (anterior) branch and parietal (posterior) branch

Question 14

What nerves innervate the meninges?

Answer 14

All 3 branches of the Trigeminal Nerve (CN V) and C2, C3 nerves.

Question 15

What nerve innervates the tentorial cereblli?

Answer 15

CN V1

Question 16

What is CSF?

Answer 16

A clear, colorless liquid that circulates in the ventricles and subarachnoid space

Question 17

What functions do the CSF perform?

Answer 17

Buoyancy, protection, environmental stability

Question 18

What is CSF formed by?

Answer 18

The choroid plexus in each ventricle

Question 19

What type of cells secrete CSF?

Answer 19

Ependymal cells that originate from the blood plasma

Question 20

What is CSF comprised of?

Answer 20

It is similar to blood plasma but has greater amounts of sodium, hydrogen, and calcium but less potassium

Question 21

Where does CSF drain?

Answer 21

Into the dural venous sinus

Question 22

What happens if the CSF is unable to drain out of the skull?

Answer 22

Hydrocephalus

Question 23

How do you treat the disease of CSF being stuck in the skull?

Answer 23

Ventriculostomy (main one) or inserting a vetriculoperitoneal shunt

Question 24

What has baroreceptors that are innervated by the glossopharyngeal N ( CN IX)?

Answer 24

Carotid sinus

Question 25

What can cause an epidural hematoma?

Answer 25

A blow to the temporal region, causing the middle meningeal artery to burst.

Question 26

What can occur do to an insufficient blood supply through the vertebral arteries?

Answer 26

Vertebrobasilar insufficiency

Question 27

What can be used to diagnose vertebrobasilar insufficiency?

Answer 27

Hx and PE, Cardio and neuro exams, CT/MRA

Question 28

What is the subclavian steal syndrome?

Answer 28

Results when there is a proximal stenosis or occlusion of the subclavian artery causing blood flow to go to shoulder and not brain. Can cause syncope, differing blood pressures and neurologic deficits. Can by diagnosed by US and CTA.