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The Meninges Quiz
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Which meningeal layer is most closely adherent to the surface of the brain and follows the contours of the gyri and sulci?
- A Meningeal layer of dura mater You picked ✕
- B Arachnoid mater You picked ✕
- C Pia mater You picked ✓
- D Periosteal layer of dura mater You picked ✕
- E Dura mater You picked ✕
Correct!
Incorrect
The answer is C: Pia mater
Explanation
Why C is correct
See Layers of the Meninges. Option C is correct. The meninges are three connective tissue membranes that encapsulate the brain and spinal cord, support them and create a space to hold the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF, the clear fluid that cushions the brain). From the outside in they are the dura mater (the outermost thick, fibrous layer), the arachnoid mater (a thinner intermediate layer) and the pia mater. The pia mater is very thin and delicate and is closely adhered to the grey matter of the brain, so it follows the gyri (the ridges of the brain surface) and dips into the sulci (the grooves between them). Between the layers lie two spaces: the subdural space (a potential space between dura and arachnoid, normally empty) and the subarachnoid space (between arachnoid and pia, filled with CSF and containing the cerebral vessels). A plain memory aid: pia is the layer that is part of the brain's own surface, the innermost of the three.
- Pia mater: the innermost meningeal layer, closely adherent to the brain.
- Surface: it follows the gyri and dips into the sulci.
- Layer order: dura mater outermost, then arachnoid mater, then pia mater.
Why the other options are incorrect
- A. Meningeal layer of dura mater: The meningeal layer of the dura mater lies against the arachnoid and is separated from the brain by the subarachnoid space, so it is not the layer adherent to the brain surface. Your answer
- B. Arachnoid mater: The arachnoid mater is the thinner middle layer, lying under the dura. It does not follow the folds of the brain: the subarachnoid space, filled with cerebrospinal fluid, separates it from the pia mater. Your answer
- D. Periosteal layer of dura mater: The periosteal layer of the dura mater is the outer dural layer fused to the inner surface of the skull, so it does not follow the gyri and sulci of the brain. Your answer
- E. Dura mater: The dura mater is the outermost, thick and fibrous layer. It lies furthest from the brain, next to the skull, and is not stuck to the brain surface. Your answer
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More questions from this set. Start the quiz to answer them and see each explanation.
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1
Which vein forms the main outflow from the dural venous sinuses immediately after blood leaves the skull?
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2
Which dural fold runs in the sagittal plane and separates the cerebral hemispheres by occupying the longitudinal fissure?
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