What are the three meninges?

• A. Dura mater, arachnoid mater, pia mater
• B. Dura mater, pia mater, choroid plexus
• C. Arachnoid mater, pia mater, dura mater
• D. Dura mater, arachnoid mater, skull

Answer: (A)

The three meninges are the dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater. The dura mater is the tough outer layer that lines the skull and continues around the spinal cord. Beneath it, the arachnoid mater is a thin, web-like membrane, with the subarachnoid space below it containing cerebrospinal fluid and blood vessels. The innermost membrane, the pia mater, closely adheres to the brain’s surface, following its contours into every groove and sulcus. CSF circulates in the subarachnoid space, providing cushioning and support. The choroid plexus is not a meninge; it’s a structure inside the brain’s ventricles that produces CSF. The skull is bone, not a meninge. So the three meninges are the dura, arachnoid, and pia.