Dura mater

Cranial dura mater

• External surface: important adhesion* to the inner surface of the cranium, in particular at the level of the suture lines
• Inner surface:  the arachnoid mater
  • Coronal section of the cranial vault

• Dural reflections: divide the cranium into several compartments
  • Falx cerebri
    between the cerebral hemispheres
  • Tentorium cerebelli
    between the inferior surface of the cerebral hemispheres and the superior surface of the cerebellum. Attaches along the sulci of the transverse and superior petrosal sinuses
    • Midsagittal section
    • Superior view of the cranium base
    • Superior view of the inner skull base
    • Posterior view
  • Falx cerebelli
    between the cerebellar hemispheres
  • Diaphragma sellae
    above the hypophysis
    • Midsagittal section
    • Midsagittal section
• Dural channels: dural venous sinuses, which give it a bluish hue
• Contains the meningeal arteries,which engrave grooves or sulci on the inner surface of the cranium
  • Anterior meningeal artery
  • Middle meningeal artery
  • Posterior meningeal artery

Spinal dura mater

• From the foramen magnum to S2
• Hollow cylinder that contains the spinal cord
• External surface: separated from the walls of the vertebral canal by the epidural space, strongly adherent to the posterior longitudinal ligament
• Lateral surface: sleeve for spinal nerves, from their roots to their perineurium
• Lower end: around the filum terminale, down to the coccyx