Meninges (Singular-Meninx) -

• Ceverings of brain.
• By infection in meninges meningitis or brain fever is caused.
• These menings are internally lined by squamous epithelium and of following types -

(i) Duramatter - Outer thick, fibrous attached to inner part of cranium i.e. Endorachis.

(ii) Arachnoid - Middle layer of meninges. Net like in appearance. Made up of squamous epitelium.

(iii) Piamatter - Inner most layer, thin, membranous, blood vessel present. Gives nourishment to brain. This layer enters into dorsal wall of brain & form choroid plexus or tella choroidea. In man choroid plexus are 5 (2 in lateral ventricle, 2 in 3rd ventricle & 1 in 4th ventricle) in rabbit choroid plexus are 2 (1 in dianchephalon & 2nd in medulla oblongeta).

• Choroid plexus is responsible to form C.S.F. (cerebrospinal fluid). CSF is formed 20 ml/hr.

Note :- Arachnoid and piamatter are collectively known as leptomeninges.

• In fishes meninx is menias premitiva. In amphibia arachnoid is absent.
• Between meninges sub dural & sub arachnoid spaces are present filled with little CSF.

MENINGES