MENINGES

Manvendra Jhalani
 MENINGES

■ Meninges are connective tissue membranes that line

the neurocranium and vertebral canal, and enclose the
central nervous system (CNS-brain and spinal cord)
■ Three layers
– Dura mater (dura): tough, thick external fi brous
layer.
– Arachnoid mater (arachnoid): thin intermediate
layer.
– Pia mater (pia): delicate internal vasculated
layer.
■ The pia mater and arachnoid together are called the
leptomeninges

■ The arachnoid is separated from the pia by the

subarachnoid (leptomeningeal) space, which contains
cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

■ provide protection to the brain and spinal cord,

accompany blood vessels to and from the CNS tissues,
and channel the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) around the
surfaces of the brain and spinal cord
MENINGITIS

■ inflammation of the membranes (meninges)

■ meningitis typically triggers symptoms such as

headache, fever and a stiff neck

■ Young children often exhibit only nonspecific

symptoms, such as irritability, drowsiness, or
poor feeding
SYMPTOMS CAUSES
■ Sudden high fever ■ Viral infections are the most common
cause of meningitis
■ Stiff neck
■ bacterial infections
■ Severe headache that seems different
than normal ■ rarely, fungal infections
■ Headache with nausea or vomiting ■ noninfectious causes, such as
chemical reactions, drug allergies,
■ Confusion or difficulty concentrating
some types of cancer and
■ Seizures inflammatory diseases such as
sarcoidosis
■ Sleepiness or difficulty waking
■ Sensitivity to light
■ No appetite or thirst
■ Skin rash
DIAGNOSIS TREATMENT
■ Blood tests and imaging
■ Vaccination
■ Lumbar puncture
■ Antibiotics
■ Behavioural measures as prevention
SUBARACNOID HEM0RRHAGE

■ Bleeding into the subarachnoid space—the

area between the arachnoid membrane and the
pia mater surrounding the brain
■ occur as a result of a head injury or
spontaneously, usually from a ruptured
cerebral aneurysm
■ Risk factors for spontaneous cases included
high blood pressure, smoking, family history,
alcoholism, and cocaine use
SYMPTOMS
■ a sudden severe headache unlike
anything you’ve experienced before
■ a stiff neck
■ feeling and being sick
■ sensitivity to light (photophobia)
■ blurred or double vision
■ stroke-like symptoms – such as
slurred speech and weakness on one
side of the body
■ loss of consciousness or convulsions
(uncontrollable shaking)
CAUSES
■ Most cases of SAH are due to trauma
such as a blow to the head
■ 85 percent of spontaneous cases the
cause is a cerebral aneurysm
■ 15–20 percent of cases of
spontaneous SAH, no aneurysm is
detected
■ Cocaine abuse and sickle cell anemia
and, rarely, anticoagulant therapy,
problems with blood clotting and
pituitary apoplexy can also result in
SAH
■ Dissection of the vertebral artery,
usually caused by trauma, can lead to
SAH
DIAGNOSIS TREATMENT
■ CT scan ■ Surgery
■ MRI ■ Endovascular embolization
■ Cerebral angiography ■ Pain medication will be given to
alleviate headache, and
■ Lumbar puncture
anticonvulsant medication may be
■ Repeated imaging given to prevent or treat seizures
MENINGIOMA

■ slow-growing tumor that forms from the meninges

■ Symptoms depend on the location and occur as a result
of the tumor pressing on nearby tissue
■ Risk factors include exposure to ionizing radiation
such as during radiation therapy, a family history of the
condition, and neurofibromatosis type 2
■ occur more commonly in women and are often
discovered at older ages
SYMPTOMS CAUSES
■ Changes in vision, such as seeing ■ Causes of meningiomas are not well
double or blurriness understood.
■ Headaches, especially those that are ■ Most cases are sporadic, appearing
worse in the morning randomly, while some are familial
■ Hearing loss or ringing in the ears ■ Having excess body fat increases the
risk
■ Memory loss
■ People with neurofibromatosis type 2
■ Loss of smell
(NF-2) have a 50% chance of
■ Seizures developing one or more meningiomas
■ Weakness in your arms or legs
■ Language difficulty
DIAGNOSIS TREATMENT
■ CT ■ Observation
■ MRI ■ Surgery
■ Chemotherapy
■ Radiation therapy
THANK YOU