Pia mater

Pia mater is the delicate innermost layer of the meninges, the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Pia mater is sometimes referred to as "pious mother" because it gently covers the brain. It is a very thin and delicate membrane composed of fibrous tissue and covered on its outer surface by a sheet of flat cells thought to be impermeable to fluid.

Structure

The pia mater is a very delicate impermeable membrane. It follows all the minor contours of the brain surface, dipping into sulci and fissures. It carries small blood vessels to nourish the brain. The pia mater is pierced by blood vessels to the brain and spinal cord, and its capillaries are responsible for nourishing the brain.

Function

The pia mater works with the other meningeal layers to protect and nourish the brain. It provides a barrier between the brain and the cerebrospinal fluid, which bathes the brain and spinal cord. The pia mater also helps to contain and circulate cerebrospinal fluid.

Clinical significance

Damage or disease of the pia mater can have serious neurological consequences. Infections of the pia mater can lead to meningitis, a potentially life-threatening condition. Other conditions, such as arachnoiditis, can also affect the pia mater.

See also

• Arachnoid mater
• Dura mater
• Meninges
• Subarachnoid space

References

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Pia mater

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  Brain with arachnoid and pia mater
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  Brain Dissection - Pia Mater and Derivatives - Sanjoy Sanyal
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  Viorel Pais - Ultrastructural diagram of the cerebral cortex