Subarachnoid Trabeculae: A Comprehensive Review of Their Embryology, Histology, Morphology, and Surgical Significance
Authors: Bryn A Martin
Sajid S Suriya
Muhammad A Khan
Salman A Fard
Farzad H Adl
M Asif Taqi
R Shane Tubbs
Ian Armstrong
Kian M Fahimdanesh
Tania Hassanzadeh
Syed A Quadri
Martin M Mortazavi
Aaron Gustin
Journal: World Neurosurgery (2018)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: Arachnoid matter; Liliequist membrane; Microsurgical procedures; Subarachnoid trabeculae; Subarachnoid trabecular membrane
Affiliations: National Skull Base Center, Thousand Oaks, California, USA; California Institute of Neuroscience, Thousand Oaks, California, USA. Electronic address: ., National Skull Base Center, Thousand Oaks, California, USA; California Institute of Neuroscience, Thousand Oaks, California, USA., Advocate BroMenn Medical Center, Normal, Illinois, USA., University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, Arizona, USA., University of California Irvine Medical Center, Irvine, California, USA., National Skull Base Center, Thousand Oaks, California, USA; University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, USA., National Skull Base Center, Thousand Oaks, California, USA; Seattle Science Foundation, Seattle, Washington, USA.

Abstract:  Introduction: Brain is suspended in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-filled subarachnoid space by subarachnoid trabeculae (SAT), which are collagen-reinforced columns stretching between the arachnoid and pia maters. Much neuroanatomic research has been focused on the subarachnoid cisterns and arachnoid matter but reported data on the SAT are limited. This study provides a comprehensive review of subarachnoid trabeculae, including their embryology, histology, morphologic variations, and surgical significance. Methods: A literature search was conducted with no date restrictions in PubMed, Medline, EMBASE, Wiley Online Library, Cochrane, and Research Gate. Terms for the search included but were not limited to subarachnoid trabeculae, subarachnoid trabecular membrane, arachnoid mater, subarachnoid trabeculae embryology, subarachnoid trabeculae histology, and morphology. Articles with a high likelihood of bias, any study published in nonpopular journals (not indexed in PubMed or MEDLINE), and studies with conflicting data were excluded. Results: A total of 1113 articles were retrieved. Of these, 110 articles including 19 book chapters, 58 original articles, 31 review articles, and 2 case reports met our inclusion criteria. Conclusions: SAT provide mechanical support to neurovascular structures through cell-to-cell interconnections and specific junctions between the pia and arachnoid maters. They vary widely in appearance and configuration among different parts of the brain. The complex network of SAT is inhomogeneous and mainly located in the vicinity of blood vessels. Microsurgical procedures should be performed with great care, and sharp rather than blunt trabecular dissection is recommended because of the close relationship to neurovascular structures. The significance of SAT for cerebrospinal fluid flow and hydrocephalus is to be determined. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 May I gently ask the authors to explain why there are no scales on the SEM images and also what are the names of those spots in front of the arrows in images A and B?  ,