What are the different protective layers of the brain?
Three main layers protect the brain from injuries: scalp, cranium, and meninges.
- Scalp
The scalp is the layer of skin that has hair as well.
- Cranium
Cranium is the part of the skull. It is made of 8 cranial bones. It is covered with a membranous tissue called the periosteum.
- Meninges
Meninges is a layer of cushion present between the cranium and the brain. It has three sublayers: dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater.
- Dura mater
Dura mater is closest to the cranium. It is mostly made up of fibres and is the toughest of the three.
- Arachnoid mater
Arachnoid mater is a mesh-like layer composed of fibres along with cells present in between. Its major function is to provide cushioning to the brain.
- Pia mater
Pia mater is closest to the brain. It adheres to the brain firmly. The brain gets its nutrition and blood supply through the capillaries piercing the pia mater.
- Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)
Cerebrospinal fluid is the fluid present between the arachnoid mater and pia mater. It acts as the shock absorber. It also forms an immunological barrier around the brain to protect it from various infectious agents.
Protective layers of the brain
What are the different protective layers of the spinal cord?
The vertebral column protects the spinal cord along with the layers of meninges and cerebrospinal fluid.