Which meninges layer is the thin inner layer that adheres to the brain and spinal cord?

Which meninges layer is the thin inner layer that adheres to the brain and spinal cord?

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

Answer: (B)

Understanding which meningeal layer directly covers the brain and spinal cord is essential. The thin inner layer that adheres tightly to the neural tissue is the pia mater. It sits right on the surface of the brain and spinal cord, following every curve and groove, and is highly vascularized to supply the underlying tissue. The space just outside it is the subarachnoid space, which holds cerebrospinal fluid. The outermost dura mater is a tough protective layer, and the middle arachnoid mater is a web-like membrane between them. The term meninges refers to all three layers collectively, not the innermost one. So, the inner, adherent layer is the pia mater.

Understanding which meningeal layer directly covers the brain and spinal cord is essential. The thin inner layer that adheres tightly to the neural tissue is the pia mater. It sits right on the surface of the brain and spinal cord, following every curve and groove, and is highly vascularized to supply the underlying tissue. The space just outside it is the subarachnoid space, which holds cerebrospinal fluid. The outermost dura mater is a tough protective layer, and the middle arachnoid mater is a web-like membrane between them. The term meninges refers to all three layers collectively, not the innermost one. So, the inner, adherent layer is the pia mater.