Dura

Dura is the outermost of the three layers of the meninges surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It is also known as the dura mater, which means "tough mother" in Latin due to its durable nature. The dura encloses the arachnoid mater and the pia mater, the other two layers of the meninges.

Structure

The dura mater is a thick, durable membrane, closest to the skull and vertebrae. The dura has two layers, the periosteal layer and the meningeal layer. The periosteal layer is attached to the inner surface of the skull and is composed of dense fibrous tissue. The meningeal layer is delicate and is closer to the brain and spinal cord.

Function

The primary function of the dura mater is to protect the brain and spinal cord from mechanical injury. It also contains blood vessels that nourish the meninges and the skull. The dura mater, along with the other meninges, helps to keep the brain and spinal cord in a liquid medium, which allows for the absorption of mechanical shocks.

Clinical significance

Inflammation of the dura mater, known as dural inflammation, can lead to serious complications such as meningitis, which is an infection of the meninges. Other conditions that can affect the dura mater include subdural hematoma, which is a collection of blood between the dura mater and the arachnoid mater, and epidural hematoma, which is a collection of blood between the dura mater and the skull.

See also

• Meninges
• Brain
• Spinal cord
• Meningitis
• Subdural hematoma
• Epidural hematoma