58
CHAPTER 7
spinal ganglia and the spinal nerves themselves as they pass through the foramina inter-
vertebralia. The dura consists of dense fibrous tissue, and in contrast to the cerebral
dura has little vascular supply. The dura ends in a sack at the level of the 2nd or 3rd
sacral vertebrae forming the filum durae matris spinalis.
The arachnoidea which is a continuation of the cerebral arachnoid is a delicate,
cobweb-like membrane consisting of fine elastic fibrous tissue and containing vessels of
varying size which can be large enough to be damaged by lumbar or cysternal punctures
resulting in more or less extensive haemorrhage. The interspace between the surface of
the spinal cord and the dura mater (cavum subdurale) is filled with the cerebro-spinal
fluid circulating within the space formed by arachnoid and pia. With regard to the
mechanics and dynamics of the cerebro-spinal fluid the reader is referred to the writer's
monograph, published in Vol. VII (2) pages 1-114 °f tne
Handbuch der Neurologic
of
Bumke & Foerster (1936). On opening the dura the arachnoid can be easily detached
from the innerside of the dura, but it is firmly fixed to the pia and partly penetrates into
the anterior median fissure, posterior median sulcus and posterior intermediate sulcus.
Fissura mediana anterior
Sulcus
medianus
posterior
Sulcus
lateralis
posterior
Fila
radicularia
dorsalia
Arachnoidea
spinalis
Dura mater
spinalis
(pachymeninx)
Ligamentum
denticulatum
Dura
mater
spinalis
Ganglia
spinalia
Fl G. 22. Part of the spinal cord with its meninges (dorsal view) (Sobotta-Becher).
