What is the Difference Between Dura Mater of Brain and Spinal Cord?

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:

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.