dura mater
Quick Summary
The dura mater is the outermost of the three protective membranes, called meninges, that surround the brain and spinal cord. It is a strong, thick, and dense membrane made of fibrous tissue.12
The dura mater's functions include supporting the large venous channels that carry blood from the brain and forming partitions that support the brain, such as the falx cerebri between the two hemispheres and the tentorium cerebelli over the cerebellum. It also acts as the periosteum, the inner covering of the skull bones.1
Complications can arise from trauma, leading to blood clots outside or just below the dura mater, known as extradural or subdural hematomas. These can cause increased intracranial pressure and compress the brain, potentially requiring surgical intervention.3
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