FACULTY OF SCIENCE

School of Biomedical Sciences (SBMS)

ANAT1005
CNS II
Meninges, CSF & Vessels

Lecturer: Tracey Langfield

Email: t.langfield@uq.edu.au
Phone: 07 3365 2700
Office: Otto Hirschfeld Building #81, Room 425A,

September 2012
Learning objectives:

•To learn the structure and function of the meninges of the CNS

•To understand the relationship of the meninges to the different forms of cerebral
haemorrhage

•To relate the components of the ventricular system to the different regions of
the brain

•To learn the function of cerebrospinal fluid, its production, directional flow and
reabsorption

•To learn the arterial supply to and venous drainage of the brain

•To appreciate the relationship between the areas of vascular compromise and
functional consequences.
Meninges of the brain:
FUNCTIONS
•Protective coverings
•Limit excessive displacement of the brain associated with rapid movements
•Provide a space for cerebrospinal fluid and blood vessels

SUPERFICIAL to DEEP:

scalp
skull
1. dura mater
2. arachnoid mater
3. pia mater

Rohen 2011
Meninges of the brain:
dura mater:
•tough fibrous 2 layered connective tissue (periosteal layer + meningeal layer)
•sensory nerve supply (pain) alcohol
•meningeal arteries
•dural folds: meningeal layer folds inward
= falx cerebri (vertical sheet)
= tentorium cerebelli (horizontal)

Rohen 2011
Rohen 2011
Meninges of the brain:

dura mater:

falx cerebri (vertical sheet)

Rohen 2011
Meninges of the brain: dura mater

Rohen 2011
 Meninges of the brain:
arachnoid mater: translucent spider web membrane
cerebral arteries and veins between arachnoid mater & pia mater
pia mater: very thin delicate membrane
*adheres to surface of brain (sulci / gyri)

Rohen 2011
 SUPERFICIAL to DEEP:

skull & periosteal dura mater

*extradural “potential” space

meningeal dura mater

*subdural “potential” space

arachnoid mater
*subarachnoid space (true space) – cerebral arteries & veins

pia mater
Subarachnoid space:
•Cerebrospinal fluid
•Cerebral arteries & veins

Rohen 2011

scalp

skull

Periosteal dura
Meningeal dura
arachnoid
Cerebral vessels:
arteries & veins

pia
 Clinically:
Epidural haematoma:
(abnormal epidural space)
*middle meningeal artery
slow

Subdural haematoma:
(abnormal subdural space)
bridging vein bleed
slow

Subarachnoid haemorrhage
= cerebral artery bleed in subarachnoid space
fast Schuenke et al 2010
Epidural haematoma: (abnormal epidural space)
Blow to the anterior inferior portion of the parietal bone
*middle meningeal artery is torn
Slow bleed
Meningeal layer is stripped off the periosteal layer
Underlying motor cortex

Snell 2010
 Meninges of the spinal cord:

Dura is not adhered to the yellow = periosteum of vertebra

vertebrae to allow for movement red = dura mater
•True epidural space green = arachnoid mater
•Filled with fat & venous plexus pink = pia mater

Denticulate ligaments:
lateral expansions of pia
mater

Schuenke et al 2010
 Human brain during development
Right lateral view:
Week 14 Week 24

2
1
3

1 Occipital pole
2 Temporal pole
3 Frontal pole
4 Insula
VENTRICULAR SYSTEM:
•the neural tube distorted along with the development of the brain
•filled with cerebrospinal fluid

Greater development ... Larger ventricle

Martini , 2012
Ventricles correspond to different parts of the brain:

Adult brain structure Associated ventricle

 Lateral ventricles (2)

Rohen 2011

A
P

R lateral view with insula cortex removed to reveal left lateral ventricle
Rohen 2011
 3rd ventricle
•Midline between thalami

Schuenke et al 2010
 3rd & 4th ventricles

3rd
T T

midbrain

4th

Rohen 2011

Posterior view of diencephalon & brainstem with cerebellum removed

 Cerebral aqueduct & 4th ventricle
Remember mesencephalon didn’t differentiate ... Small cerebral aqueduct!

Frontal lobe

Crossman & Neary 2010

 Cerebrospinal fluid:

subarachnoid space
FUNCTIONS:
•Support & cushion the CNS
•Maintenance of constant external environment
•Distribution of hormones / neurotransmitters

•Produced by choroid plexus in the lateral, 3rd and 4th ventricles

•Directional flow:
•Laterals – 3rd – cerebral aqueduct – 4th
•outflow to subarachnoid space
•up toward superior sagittal sinus

Crossman & Neary 2010

 Cerebrospinal fluid:

•produced continuously daily ~ 500ml

•Combined volume in ventricles and subarachnoid space ~ 150ml

•Requires continuous drainage / reabsorption

•arachnoid granulations into the superior sagittal venous sinus

or?
Directional flow of CSF:
•Lateral ventricles – 3rd – cerebral aqueduct – 4th
•outflow to subarachnoid space
•Reabsorbed into venous system via arachnoid granulations in the superior
sagittal sinus

Krebs 2012
Krebs 2012
 Arterial supply to the brain
The brain receives approx 15% of the resting cardiac output

Internal carotid artery

vertebral artery
common carotid artery

subclavian artery

Schuenke et al 2010
 The circle of Willis
•an arterial anastomosis system on the base of the brain
•not always complete

1. Anterior cerebral arteries

2. Middle cerebral arteries Carotid system
3. Posterior cerebral arteries

• Anterior communicating
• Posterior communicating

Vertebrobasilar
system

Krebs 2012
Arterial supply to the brain
Cerebrovascular accidents (stroke)

Which artery was affected?

 Brain areas supplied by different arteries - summary

Lateral: Medial:

Crossman & Neary 2010

Cortical branches:
• Anterior cerebral artery: medial surface of the frontal & parietal lobes & narrow strip superiorly
•Middle cerebral artery: lateral surface of all lobes

• Posterior cerebral artery: medial & basal surfaces of occipital & temporal lobes

Note that there are deep penetrating branches to the deeper subcortical structures
middle cerebral artery distribution: lateral view

Sits in lateral sulcus

Schuenke et al 2010
 anterior and posterior cerebral arteries:
medial view

Parietal lobe
Anterior cerebral artery

Parieto-occipital sulcus

Frontal
lobe

Occipital lobe

Temporal lobe Posterior cerebral artery

Schuenke et al 2010
Cerebrovascular accidents (stroke)
Which artery was affected?

And which cerebral functions will be affected?

Which side of the body will be affected? Which parts?
 Different areas of the cortex are associated with
different functions

Parietal lobe = sensation

Frontal lobe
Motor & abstract
intellect
Occipital lobe = vision
Insula cortex

Temporal lobe = auditory, memory

Martini , 2012
 The hemispheres are not the same

Speech centre

writing Analysis by touch

Spatial visualisation
Language and maths
and analysis

Martini , 2012
Sensory homunculus
Primary somatosensory cortex
post central gyrus parietal lobe
Receives somatic sensory input
Touch, pressure, temperature, pain,
conscious proprioception
Motor homunculus
Primary somatomotor cortex
Precentral gyrus frontal lobe
Sends motor commands to
skeletal muscles

Martin 2012
Arterial supply to the brain – cerebellum & brainstem

Vertebrobasilar system

Schuenke et al 2010
 Venous return
Superior sagittal sinus

Inferior sagittal sinus

Straight sinus

Sigmoid sinus
Schuenke et al 2010
Internal jugular vein

Remember the CSF outflow into the superior sagittal sinus via arachnoid granulations
 Cavernous sinus

Jugular foramen
Sigmoid sinus

Transverse sinus

Straight sinus Confluence of sinuses Schuenke et al 2010

 REFERENCES

•Crossman AR & Neary D (2010) Neuroanatomy. Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, UK.

•Krebs C, Weinberg J & Akesson E (2012) Neuroscience. Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, USA.

•Martin JH (2012) Neuroanatomy Text and Atlas. McGraw Hill, USA.

•Martini FH, Nath JL & Bartholomew EF (2012) Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology.
9th Edition. Pearson Benjamin Cummings, USA.

•Rohen JW, Yokochi C & Lutjen-Drecoll E (2011) Colour atlas of anatomy. Lippincott,
Williams & Wilkins, USA.

•Schuenke M, Schulte E & Schumacher U (2010) Atlas of anatomy, Head and Neuroanatomy.
Thieme, Germany.

Snell RS (2010) Clinical Neuroanatomy. Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, USA.