The Meninges and Blood Vessels of
Brain and Spinal Cord,
and the Cerebrospinal Fluid
Muh. Iqbal Basri
Anatomy Department
The Meninges of Brain and Spinal Cord
The spinal cord and brain are surrounded
by three membranes, the meninges.
Named from the outside inward they are
the dura mater, arachnoid(mater), and
piamater.
Duramater = pachymeninges
Arachnoidea + Piamater = Leptomeninges
The meninges of spinal cord
Duramater spinalis
Arachnoidmater
spinalis
Piamater spinalis
Duramater spinalis
Characters
Above, attached to
circumference of foramen
magnum
Below, becomes thinner at
level of S2, invests filum
terminale to attach at back
of coccyx
Spatium epidurale
Position: lies between spinal dura mater and periosteum of vertebral canal
Contents: a quantity of loose connective tissue, fat, lymphatic vessels and
vertebral venous plexus, the spinal nerves on each side pass through the
epidural space which is applicable for block anesthesia
Spatium subdurale
Arachnoidmater spinalis
Characters
A thin, delicate, tubular
membran loosely investing
spinal cord
Above, it is continuous with
cerebral arachnoid mater
Spatium
subarachnoideum
Position: lies between pia and
arachnoid maters containing
cerebrospinal fluid
Terminal cistern : the largest
part of subarachnoid space
extending from termination of
spinal cord to level of S2, where
it is occupied by nerves of
cauda equina, so it is the best
site for a lumbar puncture
Lumbar spinal puncture (spinal tap)
Piamater spinalis
A delicate vascular membrane
that closely invests the spinal
cord
Ligamentum denticulatum:
consist of 21 pairs triangular
ligaments extending from
spinal cord on each side
between anterior and posterior
roots of spinal nerves to
spinal dura mate; these
ligaments help to fix position
of spinal cord.
Filum terminale: an
extension of pia beyond conus
medullaris
The Meninges of Brain
Duramater cerebri
Arachnoidmater cerebri
Piamater cerebri
Duramater cerebri
Characters
A thick and dense
inelastic membrane that
composed of two layers,
an inner or lamina
meningealis and outer
or lamina endostealis
It is in loose contact with
calvaria, and most
strongly adherent to
base of skull
Four septa- Lamina meningealis
Falx cerebri
Tentorium cerebelli － in front there is a gap, the incisura
tentorial , for passage of midbrain
Falx cerebelli
Diaphragma sellae
Sistem sinus venosus
Sinus sagittalis superior
Sinus sagittalis inferior
Sinus rectus
Confluens sinuum
Sinus transversus
Sinus sigmoideus
Sinus petrosus
superior
Sinus petrosus
inferior
Sinus cavernosus
Position: lies on each side of sella turcica
Relations of cavernous sinus:
Arteri carotis interna and abducent nerve run through the sinus
Oculomotor and trochlear nerves and ophthalmic and maxillary
divisions of trigeminal nerve lie in the lateral wall of the sinus
The flowing of the blood in dural sinus
Sup. sagittal sinus
Inf. sagittal sinus Straight sinus Confluence of sinus Transverse sinus
Sup. petrosal sinus
Sigmoid sinus
Cavernous sinus
Inf. petrosal sinus Internal jugular vein
Arachnoidmater cerebri
Characters: a delicate
membrane covering
brain loosely, passing
over sulci and entering
only cerebral
longitudinal and
transverse fissures
Consist of : membrana
arachnoidea and
trabecula arachnoidea
Granulatio arachnoidea － project into sinuses of dura mater,
serve as sites where cerebrospinal fluid diffuses into bloodstream
Cisterna subarachnoid c
Cisterna
cerebellomedullaris
(magna)
Cisterna
interpeduncularis
(basalis)
Cisterna pontis
Cisterna superior
(ambiens)
Cisterna chiasmatis
Cisterna lumbalis
Cerebellomedullary cistern
Piamater cerebri
Closely invests brain
surface, in some areas the
pia invaginates into
ventricles to take part in
the formation of choroids
plexus
Circulation of cerebrospinal fluid
(CSF)
Cerebrospinal fluid is a
clear colorless fluid, which
acts as a transport medium
for nutrients and vaster
products and provides a
protective fluid cushion for
the central nervous system.
Production: produced by the
choroids plexuses within the
lateral, third and fourth
ventricles
Circulation of cerebrospinal fluid
CSF drains from lateral ventricle interventricular foramina third ventricle
mesencephalic aqueduct median and two lateral apertures
fourth ventricle
subarachnoid space arachnoid granulations superior sagittal sinus vein
Blood vessels of brain and spinal cord
Arteries of brain
Two sources
Arteri carotis interna:
supplies anterior 2/3 of
cerebral hemisphere
and parts of
diencephalon
Arteri vertebralis:
supplies postterior 1/3
of cerebral
hemisphere and parts
of diencephalon, brain
stem and cerebellum
Arteri carotis interna
Arteri cerebri anterior
Arteri cerebri media
Arteri choroidea anterior
Arteri communicans
posterior
Arteri cerebri anterior
Joined the fellow of the
opposite side by the arteri
communicans anterior
Cortical branches: supply
all medial surface of the
cerebral cortex as far back
as the parietooccipital sulcus
and superior border of the
suprolateral surface of the
cerebral hemisphere
Central branches: supply
caudate nucleus, anterior
part of lentiform nucleus and
anterior limb of internal
capsule
Arteri cerebri media
Cortical branches:
supply most of
superolateral surface of
cerebral hemisphere and
insular lobe
Central branches:
supply lentiform and
caudate nuclei, genu and
posterior limb of internal
capsule (arteri
lenticulostriata )
Arteri choroidea anterior:
passes backward, enters
inferior horn of lateral ventricle,
and ends in choroid plexus. It
supplies lateral geniculate
body, posterior limb of internal
capsule, middle 3/5 of crus
cerebri,and globus pallidus
Arteri communicans posterior:
runs backward to join posterior
cerebral artery
Arteri vertebralis
Cranial branches
Anterior and posterior spinal
arteries
Posterior inferior cerebellar
artery
Arteri basilaris
Anterior inferior cerebellar
artery
Labyrinthine artery
Pontine arteries
Superior cerebellar artery
Arteri cerebri posterior
Arteri cerebri posterior
Cortical branches:
supply medial and
inferior surfaces of
temporal lobe and
occipital lobe
Central branches:
supply dorsal thalamus,
medial and lateral
geniculate bodies,
hypothalamus and
subthalamus
Cerebral arterial circle ( arteriosus
circulus Willisi)
Formation: formed by
anterior communicating
artery, both anterior
cerebral arteries, internal
carotid arteries, posterior
communicating arteries, and
posterior cerebral arteries
Position: lies on sella
turcica around optic
chiasma, tuber cinereum
and mamillary bodies
Area of oxygendeprives brain
Blockage
Thrombus
Plaque
Microaneurysm
Lenticulostriate arteries
Subarachnoid hemorrhage
Intracerebral
hemorhage
Arteriovenous
malformation
Veins of brain
Vena cerebri superficialis
Drain blood from cortex
and subcortical
medullary substance and
empty into adjacent
sinuses of dura mater
Veins of brain
Vena cerebri
profunda: drain deeper
parts of hemispheres,
basal nuclei, internal
capsule, diencephalon
and choroid plexus,
ultimately form vena
cerebri magna which
enter straight sinus
Blood vessels of spinal cord
Arteries of spinal cord
Two sources
Arteri spinalis anterior (1)
and arteri spinalis posterior
(2)
Branches of segmental
arteries: radicular arteries
of posterior intercostals
arteries, lumbar arteries,
and lateral sacral arteries
Damage area:
T1~T4,ventral part of L1
vascular ring
( vasocorona )
Blood vessels of spinal cord
Spinal veins: drain into internal vertebral venous plexus
