Folds of Meninges

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 Folds of
duramater

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 Meninges
• Interior of cranial cavity is
lined by the Duramater
• Surface of brain is covered
by the Piamater
• Between these two lies
Arachnoid mater

1. Duramater
2. Arachnoid mater
3. Piamater
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 Dura Mater
• Cerebral dura mater (also called cranial
dura) is a strong fibrous membrane
Two layers:
1. Outer endosteal layer
2. Inner meningeal layer

• Two layers are fused with each other

• Except where they enclose venous
sinuses
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Outer Layer (or Endosteal Layer)

• It is the periosteum lining the inner

surfaces of the skull bones and is
commonly referred to as endocranium

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 Endosteal layer

Features:
1. Continuous with the periosteum on
the outer surface of skull- through
sutures and the foramina
2. Provides sheaths for cranial nerves
3. Loosely attached to the vault of skull
4. Firmly attached to the base of the
skull
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 Inner Layer (Meningeal Layer)
• Dura mater proper

• At the foramen magnum becomes

continuous with the dura mater
surrounding the spinal cord (i.e. spinal
dura)
• It is separated from the arachnoid
mater by a subdural space

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 Inner Layer (Meningeal Layer)
• At places, the meningeal layer is folded
on itself to form dural folds (also
called dural septa)

• Dural folds project into the cranial

cavity and divide it into compartments
which lodge the different parts of the
brain

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 Folds of the dura mater

1. Falx cerebri

2. Tentorium cerebelli

3. Falx cerebelli

4. Diaphragma sellae

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 Falx cerebri
• It is a large sickle-shaped fold of the
dura mater occupying the median
longitudinal fissure between the two
cerebral hemispheres
• Its narrow anterior end is attached to
the crista galli
• The broad posterior end is attached on
to the upper surface of the tentorium
cerebelli along the median plane

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 Falx
cerebri

• Its convex upper margin is attached to

the lips of the sagittal sulcus of the
skull vault
• Its lower concave margin is free and lies
just above the corpus callosum
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Tentorium
cerebelli

• Tent-shaped fold of the dura mater

forming the roof of posterior cranial fossa
• It separates the cerebellum from the
occipital lobes of the cerebrum
 Two margins
 Two surfaces Dr Mohd Imran ANATOMY JNMC AMU 14
Tentorium
cerebelli

• Inner free margin is U-shaped and

encloses the tentorial notch (incisure)
for the passage of the midbrain
• Outer attached margin is convex and
attached on each side
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 Tentorium
cerebelli
1. Convex upper
surface slopes to
either side from
the median plane

• In the median plane, it provides

attachment to falx cerebri
2. Concave inferior surface provides
attachment to falx cerebelli in its
posterior part
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 Falx
cerebelli

• Small sickle-shaped fold of duramater

in the sagittal plane
• It extends from internal occipital
protuberance along the internal
occipital crest to the posterior margin
of foramen magnum
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Diaphragma
sellae

• Small circular horizontal fold of dura

forming the roof of the hypophyseal fossa
• It is attached anteriorly to the
tuberculum sellae and posteriorly to the
dorsum sellae
• Central aperture- provides passage to the
stalk of the pituitary gland
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Blood Supply of the Dura Mater
Inner layer:
• more fibrous
• requires very little blood to nourish it

Outer layer:
• Richly vascular
• Provides nourishment to the adjacent
bone

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