What is the Difference Between Dura Mater of Brain and Spinal Cord?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The dura mater is a protective membrane that covers the brain and spinal cord. While it has some similarities, there are differences between the dura mater of the brain and the spinal cord.
Dura Mater of the Brain:
- It has two layers: the periosteal and the meningeal layer.
- The periosteal layer is the superficial layer of the dura within the calvarium.
- The dura mater is supplied with blood vessels that nourish the brain.
Dura Mater of the Spinal Cord:
- It only has one layer, which is the deep meningeal layer.
- The periosteal layer ends at the foramen magnum, and only the meningeal layer continues down along the spinal cord.
- The spinal dura mater attaches to the tectorial membrane and posterior longitudinal ligament.
Both the brain and spinal cord meninges have three layers: the dura mater, the arachnoid mater, and the pia mater. The arachnoid mater is a thin layer that lies between the dura mater and the pia mater, while the pia mater is a thin layer that closely envelops the brain and spinal cord. In the spinal cord, there is an epidural space between the dura mater and the surrounding vertebral bone, filled with blood vessels, adipose tissue, and nerve roots.
Comparative Table: Dura Mater of Brain vs Spinal Cord
The dura mater is a protective membrane that covers the brain and spinal cord. There are some differences between the dura mater of the brain and the dura mater of the spinal cord. Here is a table summarizing those differences:
Feature | Dura Mater of Brain | Dura Mater of Spinal Cord |
---|---|---|
Layers | Two layers: periosteal and meningeal layers | Single layer: meningeal layer |
Folds and Reflections | Present, including falx cerebri, tentorium cerebelli, falx cerebelli, and diaphragma sellae | Absent |
Epidural Space | Absent | Present, filled with blood vessels, adipose tissue, and nerve roots |
Attachment | Connected to the periosteum of the skull | Attached to the tectorial membrane and posterior longitudinal ligament |
Both the brain and spinal cord dura mater are part of the meninges, which also include the arachnoid mater and pia mater. The meninges provide protection, support, and passage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for the central nervous system.
- Cranial Dura vs Spinal Dura
- Brain vs Spinal Cord Meninges
- Brainstem vs Spinal Cord
- Medulla Oblongata vs Spinal Cord
- Spinal Cord vs Vertebral Column
- Spinal Cord vs Backbone
- Spinal Cord vs Spinal Column
- White Matter vs Gray Matter
- Cranial vs Spinal Nerves
- Meningocele vs Meningomyelocele
- Cerebrum vs Cerebral Cortex
- Meningioma vs Glioma
- Brain vs Cerebrum
- Epidural vs Subdural
- Blood Brain Barrier vs Blood CSF Barrier
- Mind vs Brain
- Human Brain vs Animal Brain
- Notochord vs Nerve Cord
- Subdural vs Subarachnoid Hemorrhage