Difference Between Dura Mater of Brain and Spinal Cord

Introduction

The dura mater encases the brain and spinal cord and is a thick membrane consisting of dense, irregular connective tissue. The topmost of the three meninges, or membrane layers, cover the central nervous system. Arachnoid mater and pia mater are the two other meningeal layers. The dura mater encloses the arachnoid mater, which is responsible for retaining the cerebrospinal fluid. The neural crest cell population provides most of its genetic material, with postnatal contributions from the paraxial mesoderm.

The meningeal layer is regarded as the actual dura mater. Dural venous sinuses are passageways that run between these two layers. These veins transport blood from the brain and into the internal jugular veins, from where it is brought back to the heart.

Cerebral nerves are protected inside the skull by tubular sheaths made of the cranial dura mater. The meningeal layer makes up the dura mater of the spinal column and does not present a periosteal layer.

Table of Contents

• Dura Mater of Brain
• Dura Mater of Spinal Cord
• Difference between Dura Mater of Brain and Spinal Cord
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Dura Mater of Brain

The outer meninges of the brain are called dura mater. It runs parallel to the spinal cord. The dura mater, protecting the brain, forms the venous sinuses, which remove the blood and cerebrospinal fluid. Hence, the dura mater can be found in the spinal cord and brain.

The dura mater structure of the brain is composed mainly of extracellular cisterns, a lack of connective tissue fibres, and the existence of cell junctions other than tight junctions. There are numerous folds and reflections in the brain’s dura mater, including the falx cerebri, tentorium cerebelli, falx cerebelli, and diaphragma sellae. Additionally, the dura mater has several collagen fibres arranged in various directions. The dura mater of the brain exhibits a prominent distribution of fibrocytes.

Moreover, the periosteal lining of the skull’s osteocyte is where the dura mater of the brain is connected. There is no epidural space. The brain’s dura mater serves primarily as a barrier of defence. It protects the complete central nervous system from shock and injury from outside. It is also in charge of keeping the cerebrospinal fluid in the brain intact.

Also, Read:Diagram of Brain

Dura Mater of Spinal Cord

The fibrous, firm, non-adherent covering that covers the spinal cord is known as the spinal dura mater or dura mater of the spinal cord. The dura mater exists between the vertebral canal wall and the epidural space. It consists of a network of loose areolar tissue and internal spinal venous plexuses arranged in parallel fibrous elastic bands.

The dura mater of the spinal cord is also extensively vascularized. The anterior and posterior radicular arteries provide it with blood, whereas the anterior and posterior spinal veins remove blood from the dura mater. The venous plexus is the primary distinguishing feature of the dura mater of the spinal cord. The venous plexus releases the dura mater of the spinal cord.

Furthermore, the dura mater has a good supply of nerves. The dura mater includes branches from sensory nerves and spinal nerves. In addition to the second and third cervical vertebrae, the spinal dura mater is joined to the foramen magnum. The spinal dura mater protects the spinal cord and preserves the cerebrospinal fluid like the dura mater of the brain.

Also Read:Neurons – Nerve Impulses

Difference between Dura Mater of Brain and Dura Mater of Spinal Cord

The dura mater of the brain and spinal cord not only protects but also preserves the cerebrospinal fluid. These two morphological structures are made of an areolar fibrillar network. Both continue into the foramen magnum, but the dura mater of the brain is aligned with the periosteum of the skull bone. This summarises the differences between the dura mater of the brain and the spinal cord.

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Related Links:

• Human Nervous System
• Central Nervous System
• Difference between Brain and Spinal Cord Meninges

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