Blood supply of the meninges
Updates to Article Attributes
The blood supply of the meninges generally concerns the blood supply of the outer layer of dura mater rather than the inner layer of dura mater, arachnoid or pia mater which do not require a large blood supply. There are several arteries that supply the dura in the anterior, middle, and posterior cranial fossae 1,2.
Blood supply
Anterior cranial fossa
- meningeal branches of:
- anterior ethmoidal artery
- posterior ethmoidal artery
- ophthalmic artery
- frontal branch of the middle meningeal artery 2,3
Middle cranial fossa
- frontal and parietal branches of the middle meningeal artery (enters the middle cranial fossa via the foramen spinosum)
- accessory meningeal artery
- ascending pharyngeal artery
- branches directly from the internal carotid artery 2,3
The supratentorial dura mater is primarily supplied by the middle meningeal artery. This is a branch of the maxillary artery and, despite its name, it primarily supplies the calvarium rather than the meninges 1,2. Clinical importance is given to this artery due to its location in the extradural space and the proximity of its frontal branchanterior division to the pterion making it susceptible to damage in head injuries 4.
Posterior cranial fossa
Related pathology
-</ul><p>The supratentorial dura mater is primarily supplied by the middle meningeal artery. This is a branch of the <a href="/articles/maxillary-artery">maxillary artery</a> and, despite its name, it primarily supplies the calvarium rather than the meninges <sup>1,2</sup>. Clinical importance is given to this artery due to its location in the <a href="/articles/extradural-space">extradural space</a> and the proximity of its frontal branch to the <a href="/articles/pterion">pterion</a> making it susceptible to damage in head injuries <sup>4</sup>.</p><h5>Posterior cranial fossa</h5><ul>- +</ul><p>The supratentorial dura mater is primarily supplied by the middle meningeal artery. This is a branch of the <a href="/articles/maxillary-artery">maxillary artery</a> and, despite its name, it primarily supplies the calvarium rather than the meninges <sup>1,2</sup>. Clinical importance is given to this artery due to its location in the <a href="/articles/extradural-space">extradural space</a> and the proximity of its anterior division to the <a title="Pterion" href="/articles/pterion">pterion</a> making it susceptible to damage in head injuries <sup>4</sup>.</p><h5>Posterior cranial fossa</h5><ul>