Difference Between Dura Mater of Brain and Spinal Cord

The key difference between dura mater of brain and spinal cord is that dura mater of the brain rests on the periosteal lining of the skull bone and protects the brain while the dura mater of the spinal cord rests on the foramen magnum and protects the spinal cord.

There are three meninges which protect the central nervous system. Dura Mater is the outermost layer or the outermost meninges which protects both the brain and spinal cord. It also holds the cerebrospinal fluid and resists external shocks and injury. Dura mater of the brain is the outermost meninges that cover the brain while dura mater of the spinal cord is the outermost meninges that cover the spinal cord.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Dura Mater of Brain
3. What is Dura Mater of Spinal Cord
4. Similarities Between Dura Mater of Brain and Spinal Cord
5. Side by Side Comparison – Dura Mater of Brain vs Spinal Cord in Tabular Form
6. Summary

What is Dura Mater of Brain?

The dura mater is the outermost meninges in the brain. It is continuous with the spinal cord. Therefore, dura mater is present in both the brain and the spinal cord. The dura mater covers the brain while forming the venous sinuses, which drain blood and cerebrospinal fluid.

The structure of the dura mater in the brain consists of three main characteristics: the presence of extracellular cisterns, absence of connective tissue fibers and the presence of cell junctions except for tight junctions. Moreover, the dura mater contains a high amount of collagen fibers which are aligned in different orientations. Distribution of fibrocytes is also a prominent feature of the dura mater in the brain. The dura mater of the brain has many folds and reflections as falx cerebri, falx cerebelli, tentorium cerebelli, diaphragma sellae.

Furthermore, the dura mater of the brain adheres to the periosteal lining of the osteocyte of the skull. It lacks an epidural space. The main function of the dura mater of the brain is protection. It protects the entire central nervous system from external damages and shock. It is also responsible for maintaining the cerebrospinal fluid intact in the brain.

What is Dura Mater of Spinal Cord?

The dura mater of the spinal cord, also called spinal dura mater, is the fibrous, non-adhering tough layer which surrounds the spinal cord. The dura mater lies in between the wall of the vertebral canal and the epidural space. It consists of loose areolar tissue arranged as parallel fibrous and elastic bands and a network of internal vertebral venous plexuses. Furthermore, the dura mater of the spinal cord is well vascularized. It receives blood via the anterior and the posterior radicular arteries, whereas the anterior and the posterior spinal veins take the blood away from the dura mater. The major characteristic feature in the structure of the dura mater of the spinal cord is the venous plexus. The venous plexus drains the external surface of the dura mater of the spinal cord.

The dura mater also contains a good nerve supply. The spinal nerve and sensory nerves branch into the dura mater. The spinal dura mater attaches to the foramen magnum and to the 2^nd and 3^rd cervical vertebra. Similar to the brain dura mater, the spinal dura mater also provides protection to the spinal cord and keeps the cerebrospinal fluid intact.

What are the Similarities Between Dura Mater of Brain and Spinal Cord?

• The dura mater of both is composed of collagen fibers and fibrils.
• They consist of areolar tissue.
• The spinal dura mater provide protection to the brain and spinal cord, respectively.
• Moreover, they help to keep the cerebrospinal fluid intact.
• Also, both have a good supply of blood vessels and nerves.
• Besides, the dura mater of the brain and spinal cord is continuous through the foramen magnum.

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

The brain and the spinal cord belong to the central nervous system. The key difference between dura mater of brain and spinal cord is that dura mater of the brain is the outermost meninges that cover the brain while dura mater of the spinal cord is the outermost meninges that cover the spinal cord.

Dura mater of the brain rests on the periosteal lining of the skull bone, and dura mater of the spinal cord rests on the foramen magnum. So, we can consider this also as a difference between dura mater of the brain and spinal cord. Furthermore, the epidural space is present in the spinal dura mater, whereas epidural space is absent in brain dura mater. Moreover, a further difference between dura mater of the brain and spinal cord is that numerous folds can be seen in the brain dura mater, but these cannot be observed in the spinal dura mater.

Summary – Dura Mater of Brain vs Spinal Cord

Dura mater is the outermost meninges of the brain and spinal cord. Thus, brain dura mater protects the brain by acting as an outer cover. In contrast, the spinal dura mater covers the spinal cord and protects the spinal cord. Both these morphological structures consist of a fibrillar network of areolar tissue. Both are continuous with the foramen magnum; however, brain dura mater is in line with the periosteal of the skull bone. In addition to protection, dura mater of brain and spinal cord also keeps the cerebrospinal fluid intact. Thus, this is the summary of the difference between dura mater of brain and spinal cord.

Reference:

1. Kenhub. “Meninges of the Brain and Spinal Cord.” Kenhub, Kenhub, 15 May 2019, Available here.
2. Ling, James. “Spinal Dura Mater | Radiology Reference Article.” Radiopaedia Blog RSS, Available here.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Sobo 1909 589” By Dr. Johannes Sobotta – Atlas and Text-book of Human Anatomy Volume III Vascular System, Lymphatic system, Nervous system and Sense Organs (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Gray770-en” By Mysid – Made by Mysid Inkscape, based on plate 770 from Gray’s Anatomy (1918, public domain) (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia