Provides a non-compressible protective box for the brain. Unfortunately, as you will learn in the neuropathology section of this laboratory, sometimes hitting the skull itself can cause additional injury to the brain. The brain and spinal cord are protected by three membranes, called the meninges. These layers enclose the brain and spinal cord and anchor it against sharp movements.
Cerebrospinal fluid is enclosed within the meningeal layers.
The cranial dura mater lines the skull and spinal canal and forms sheets of tissue which dip between the cerebral hemispheres. The arachnoid mater is thin and fibrous. Numerous arteries run between this layer and the inner pia mater. The pia mater is very thin and rich in capillaries. It is attached to the brain and spinal cord and closely follows it contours.