Organ
Dura mater
Fibrous support around the central nervous system
High-yield
Distinguish cranial dura, with periosteal and meningeal layers, from the spinal dural sac. Dural folds include the falx and tentorium, and dural sensory fibers contribute to headache.
Overview
The dura is the outer meningeal covering. In the skull, a periosteal layer adheres to bone and a meningeal layer faces the arachnoid. Dural layers form venous channels, and the meningeal layer folds inward to support and partition the brain. The meningeal dura continues into the vertebral canal as the dural sac, separated from the canal wall by the spinal epidural compartment.
Reference facts
- Location
- Outside the arachnoid; attached to the inner skull cranially but separated from the vertebral canal wall by epidural tissues in the spine
- Parts
- Cranial periosteal and meningeal layers; the meningeal layer continues through the foramen magnum, with the dural sac usually ending near S2
- Blood supply
- Middle meningeal artery and other regional meningeal branches, including ethmoidal, accessory meningeal and posterior meningeal contributions
- Innervation
- Trigeminal branches supply much of the cranial dura; upper cervical and vagal contributions are important in the posterior fossa, with overlapping territories
- Function
- Provides mechanical support, forms intracranial partitions and encloses venous sinuses; its sensory innervation makes it an important pain-sensitive structure
Clinical correlation
Stretching or irritating innervated dura can cause referred head or neck pain. Supratentorial pain commonly projects into trigeminal territories; posterior-fossa and upper-cervical afferents have overlapping referral patterns. Pain location alone does not precisely identify the affected dural region.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the dura mater located?
Outside the arachnoid; attached to the inner skull cranially but separated from the vertebral canal wall by epidural tissues in the spine.
What does the dura mater do?
Provides mechanical support, forms intracranial partitions and encloses venous sinuses; its sensory innervation makes it an important pain-sensitive structure.
What are the parts of the dura mater?
Cranial periosteal and meningeal layers; the meningeal layer continues through the foramen magnum, with the dural sac usually ending near S2.
What is the blood supply of the dura mater?
Middle meningeal artery and other regional meningeal branches, including ethmoidal, accessory meningeal and posterior meningeal contributions.