Protection of the Central Nervous System

For an introduction to how neurons work in the nervous system, refer to my past articles “Neurons and their Helpers” and “How Neurons Communicate.” In this article, we will be looking at the anatomy surrounding our central nervous system. Our nervous system consists of the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system. Since the brain and spinal cord is in the middle of your body, these two parts make up your central nervous system.

The brain and spinal cord are extremely delicate and important to our survival; therefore, it is imperative for our body to protect it as best it can. Our body does this by covering the CNS with 3 layers of meninges and cushioning it with cerebrospinal fluid. The inner layer of the meninges is called the pia mater. This thin membrane follows the contours of the brain’s surface and spinal cord. The middle layer is called the arachnoid membrane, which is transparent and web-like. In between the arachnoid membrane and the outer layer is the cerebrospinal fluid or CSF. CSF allows the heavy brain to float, absorbs shock, and provides chemical stability in the CNS. The outermost layer of the meninges is called the dura mater, the thickest layer which lies right beneath the skull.