Dural Meningeal System

Located right below the scalp, meninges is connective tissue surrounding the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and is continuous with the spinal cord. There are three meninges covering the brain: dura, arachnoid, and pia. Dura is the most superficial layer of the meninges and is separated from the arachnoid by the subdural space, which contains cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and cerebral arteries. The pia goes along with the vessels over gyri and sulci. All three layers are derived from the meninx primitiva (meningeal mesenchyme). Main cell types include fibroblasts, adipocytes, endothelia, and smooth muscle. The function of the meninges is to not only cushion the brain but also interact and regulate skull and neural development.