Falx cerebri | |
---|---|
Details | |
Part of | Meninges |
Identifiers | |
Latin | falx cerebri |
NeuroNames | 1237 |
TA98 | A14.1.01.103 |
TA2 | 5374 |
FMA | 83967 |
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy |
The falx cerebri (also known as the cerebral falx) is a large, crescent-shaped fold of dura mater that descends vertically into the longitudinal fissure to separate the cerebral hemispheres. [1] It supports the dural sinuses that provide venous and CSF drainage from the brain. [2] It is attached to the crista galli anteriorly, and blends with the tentorium cerebelli posteriorly. [3]
The falx cerebri is often subject to age-related calcification, and a site of falcine meningiomas. [2]
The falx cerebri is a strong, crescent-shaped sheet of dura mater lying in the sagittal plane between the two cerebral hemispheres. [3] It is one of four dural partitions of the brain along with the falx cerebelli, tentorium cerebelli, and diaphragma sellae; it is formed through invagination of the dura mater into the longitudinal fissure between the cerebral hemispheres. [2]
Anteriorly, the falx cerebri is narrower, thinner, and may have a number of perforations. It is broader posteriorly. [3]
The falx cerebri attaches anteriorly at the crista galli (proximally to the cribriform plate and to the frontal and ethmoid sinuses). [1]
Posteriorly, it blends into the upper surface of the cerebellar tentorium. [3]
Its convex superior margin is attached to the internal surface of the skull on either side of the midline. This attachment runs as far back as the internal occipital protuberance (the latter representing its posterior-most point of attachment [2] ); the superior sagittal sinus runs in the cranial groove between the falx cerebri's two attachments. [3]
The (concave) inferior margin of the falx cerebri is free. [3]
The falx cerebri receives its blood supply primarily from two vessels; the anterior portion receives blood supply from the anterior meningeal artery (a.k.a. anterior falx artery, or anterior falcine artery) (a branch of the anterior ethmoidal artery), and the posterior portion from the posterior meningeal artery (a branch of the ascending pharyngeal artery). [2]
Lymphatic drainage of the falx cerebri occurs mostly via meningeal lymphatic vessels that run parallel to the dural sinuses and that eventually exit the cranial vault through the jugular foramen to empty into deep cervical lymph nodes. A minority of lymph from the falx cerebri is drained anteriorly through the cribiform plate into the lymphatics of the nasal mucosa. [2]
The falx cerebri receives innervaton from all three branches of the trigeminal nerve. It receives symphatetic innervation predominantly from the superior cervical ganglia. It may receive additional innervation from dorsal rami of CN 1 and CN 2, the hypoglossal nerve, and recurrent branches of the vagus nerve. [2]
The falx cerebri is situated in the longitudinal fissure, in between the cerebral hemispheres. [3] The corpus callosum lies immediately inferior to the lower (free) margin of falx cerebri. [2]
The superior sagittal sinus is contained in the superior margin of the falx cerebri and overlies the longitudinal fissure of the brain. [1]
The inferior sagittal sinus is contained in the inferior [1] free [3] margin of the falx cerebri and arches over the corpus callosum, deep within the longitudinal fissure. [1]
The straight sinus courses along the juncture of the falx cerebri and cerebellar tentorium. [3]
Total or partial agenesis of the falx cerebri may occur, and may result in adherence of the cerebral hemispheres across the midline. Agenesis is usually associated with other developmental complications; falx cerebri agenesis in absence of other neural symptoms is exceedingly rare. [2]
The falx cerebri contains blood vessels, and nerves. [2]
Calcification of the falx cerebri is more prevalent in older patients, often without a determinable cause, and without pathogenic symptoms. [5]
Falcine meningioma is a meningioma arising from the falx cerebri and completely concealed by the overlying cortex. Falcine meningioma tends to grow predominantly into one cerebral hemisphere but is often bilateral, and in some patients the tumor grows into the inferior edge of the sagittal sinus. However, although much information is available regarding meningiomas, little is known about falcine meningiomas. [6]
The falx cerebri is a significant surgical landmark for access of the lateral ventricles via the interhemispheric transcallosal approach; agenesis (complete or partial) of the falx cerebri results in the adherence of the cerebral hemispheres, blocking midline transcallosal surgical access to the ventricles. [2]
Subfalcine herniation of the cingulate gyrus may occur following traumatic brain injury. [2]
Articles related to anatomy include:
In anatomy, the meninges are the three membranes that envelop the brain and spinal cord. In mammals, the meninges are the dura mater, the arachnoid mater, and the pia mater. Cerebrospinal fluid is located in the subarachnoid space between the arachnoid mater and the pia mater. The primary function of the meninges is to protect the central nervous system.
The internal carotid artery is an artery in the neck which supplies the anterior and middle cerebral circulation.
In neuroanatomy, dura mater is a thick membrane made of dense irregular connective tissue that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. It is the outermost of the three layers of membrane called the meninges that protect the central nervous system. The other two meningeal layers are the arachnoid mater and the pia mater. It envelops the arachnoid mater, which is responsible for keeping in the cerebrospinal fluid. It is derived primarily from the neural crest cell population, with postnatal contributions of the paraxial mesoderm.
The great cerebral vein is one of the large blood vessels in the skull draining the cerebrum of the brain. It is also known as the vein of Galen, named for its discoverer, the Greek physician Galen.
Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), also known as intracranial bleed, is bleeding within the skull. Subtypes are intracerebral bleeds, subarachnoid bleeds, epidural bleeds, and subdural bleeds.
In anatomy, the epidural space is the potential space between the dura mater and vertebrae (spine).
The cerebellar tentorium or tentorium cerebelli is one of four dural folds that separate the cranial cavity into four (incomplete) compartments. The cerebellar tentorium separates the cerebellum from the cerebrum forming a supratentorial and an infratentorial region; the cerebrum is supratentorial and the cerebellum infratentorial.
The cavernous sinus within the human head is one of the dural venous sinuses creating a cavity called the lateral sellar compartment bordered by the temporal bone of the skull and the sphenoid bone, lateral to the sella turcica.
The ophthalmic nerve (CN V1) is a sensory nerve of the head. It is one of three divisions of the trigeminal nerve (CN V), a cranial nerve. It has three major branches which provide sensory innervation to the eye, and the skin of the upper face and anterior scalp, as well as other structures of the head.
The dural venous sinuses are venous sinuses (channels) found between the endosteal and meningeal layers of dura mater in the brain. They receive blood from the cerebral veins, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the subarachnoid space via arachnoid granulations. They mainly empty into the internal jugular vein. Cranial venous sinuses communicate with veins outside the skull through emissary veins. These communications help to keep the pressure of blood in the sinuses constant.
The straight sinus, also known as tentorial sinus or the sinus rectus, is an area within the skull beneath the brain. It receives blood from the inferior sagittal sinus and the great cerebral vein, and drains into the confluence of sinuses.
The superior sagittal sinus, within the human head, is an unpaired area along the attached margin of the falx cerebri. It allows blood to drain from the lateral aspects of anterior cerebral hemispheres to the confluence of sinuses. Cerebrospinal fluid drains through arachnoid granulations into the superior sagittal sinus and is returned to venous circulation.
The inferior sagittal sinus, within the human head, is an area beneath the brain which allows blood to drain outwards posteriorly from the center of the head. It drains to the straight sinus, which connects to the transverse sinuses. See diagram : labeled in the brain as "SIN. SAGITTALIS INF.".
The falx cerebelli is a small sickle-shaped fold of dura mater projecting forwards into the posterior cerebellar notch as well as projecting into the vallecula of the cerebellum between the two cerebellar hemispheres.
The lesser wings of the sphenoid or orbito-sphenoids are two thin triangular plates, which arise from the upper and anterior parts of the body, and, projecting lateralward, end in sharp points [Fig. 1].
The transverse sinuses, within the human head, are two areas beneath the brain which allow blood to drain from the back of the head. They run laterally in a groove along the interior surface of the occipital bone. They drain from the confluence of sinuses to the sigmoid sinuses, which ultimately connect to the internal jugular vein. See diagram : labeled under the brain as "SIN. TRANS.".
The squamous part of occipital bone is situated above and behind the foramen magnum, and is curved from above downward and from side to side.
The anterior cranial fossa is a depression in the floor of the cranial base which houses the projecting frontal lobes of the brain. It is formed by the orbital plates of the frontal, the cribriform plate of the ethmoid, and the small wings and front part of the body of the sphenoid; it is limited behind by the posterior borders of the small wings of the sphenoid and by the anterior margin of the chiasmatic groove. The lesser wings of the sphenoid separate the anterior and middle fossae.
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to human anatomy:
This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 873 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)
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