What is the tough, fibrous outer meningeal layer called?

What is the tough, fibrous outer meningeal layer called?

• A. Dura mater
• B. Gray mater
• C. Arachnoid mater
• D. Pia mater

Answer: (A)

The tough, fibrous outer meningeal layer is called the dura mater. This layer serves as a protective covering for the brain and spinal cord, providing structural support and shielding these vital components of the central nervous system from external injury. The dura mater is composed of dense connective tissue, making it robust and capable of withstanding the physical stresses that can occur. In anatomical terms, the dura mater is the outermost layer of the meninges, which are the protective membranes that encase the brain and spinal cord. Beneath the dura mater lies the arachnoid mater, which is a web-like structure, and the pia mater, the innermost layer that closely adheres to the surface of the brain and spinal cord. The gray matter and white matter refer instead to types of nervous tissue found in the brain and spinal cord, rather than the protective layers surrounding them. Thus, understanding the role and characteristics of the dura mater is essential for grasping the overall protective function of the meninges.

The tough, fibrous outer meningeal layer is called the dura mater. This layer serves as a protective covering for the brain and spinal cord, providing structural support and shielding these vital components of the central nervous system from external injury. The dura mater is composed of dense connective tissue, making it robust and capable of withstanding the physical stresses that can occur.

In anatomical terms, the dura mater is the outermost layer of the meninges, which are the protective membranes that encase the brain and spinal cord. Beneath the dura mater lies the arachnoid mater, which is a web-like structure, and the pia mater, the innermost layer that closely adheres to the surface of the brain and spinal cord. The gray matter and white matter refer instead to types of nervous tissue found in the brain and spinal cord, rather than the protective layers surrounding them. Thus, understanding the role and characteristics of the dura mater is essential for grasping the overall protective function of the meninges.