Human Anatomy and Physiology (with age-related characteristics of the child's body) - Sapin M.R., Sivoglazov V.I. 2002

Nervous system
Brain
Age-related features of the meninges of the brain and spinal cord

In newborns, the cranial dura mater is thin and fused with the cranial bones. The dural septa are poorly developed. The Dural Venous Sinuses are thin-walled and relatively wide. The length of the superior sagittal sinus in a newborn is 18—20 cm. The PROJECTION OF THE sinuses differs from that in adults. For example, the sigmoid sinus is located 15 mm posterior to the tympanic ring of the external acoustic meatus. There is a greater Asymmetry in sinus size compared to adults. The anterior end of the superior sagittal sinus anastomoses with the Veins OF THE nasal mucosa. After 10 years of age, the Structure and Topography of the sinuses are the same as in adults.

In newborns, the arachnoid and pia mater of the Brain AND SPINAL cord are thin and delicate. The subarachnoid space is relatively large. Its capacity in a newborn is about 20 cm³, and then increases quite rapidly: by the end of the first year of life, up to 30 cm³, and by 5 years, up to 40—60 cm³. In 8-year-old children, the volume of the subarachnoid space reaches 100—140 cm³, and in adults, it is 100—200 cm^{1 2 3.} The cerebellomedullary, interpeduncular, and other cisterns at the Base of the brain are quite large in newborns. For instance, the height of the cerebellomedullary cistern is about 2 cm, and its width (at the upper boundary) varies from 0.8 to 1.8 cm.

Review and Self-Assessment Questions:

1. Name the Divisions of the Telencephalon and describe their anatomical and functional characteristics.

2. List the major sulci and gyri located on the superolateral, medial, and inferior surfaces of the cerebral hemisphere.

3. List the cellular layers of the Cerebral Cortex. Define and characterize The concepts of cortical "cytoarchitectonics" and "myeloarchitectonics".

4. Name the basal nuclei (ganglia) and describe their spatial relationships to one another.

5. Name the structures belonging to the White matter OF the cerebral hemispheres and describe their characteristics.

6. What are the PARTS OF THE Lateral ventricles (ventricles of the telencephalon), and where are they located?

7. Describe the subarachnoid space. Name its enlargements (cisterns).

8. Describe what you know about the production and outflow pathways of CEREBROSPINAL FLUID.

9. Name the processes of the cranial dura mater and the sinuses into which Blood drains from the cerebral veins.