Subdural space

Subdural space
Diagrammatic representation of a section across the top of the skull, showing the membranes of the brain, etc. ("Subdural cavity" visible at left.)
Diagrammatic transverse section of the medulla spinalis and its membranes. (Subdural cavity is colored green, labeled at bottom and top right.)
Latin	spatium subdurale, cavum subdurale
Gray's	subject #193 875

The subdural space (or subdural cavity) is an artificial space created by the separation of the arachnoid mater from the dura mater as the result of trauma, pathologic process, or the absence of cerebrospinal fluid as seen in a cadaver. In the cadaver, due to the absence of cerebrospinal fluid in the subarachnoid space, the arachnoid mater falls away from the dura mater. It may also be the site of trauma, such as a subdural hematoma, causing abnormal separation of dura and arachnoid mater. Hence, the subdural space is referred to as "potential" or "artificial" space.

See also

• Epidural space
• Subarachnoid space
• Meninges
• Subdural hematoma

External links

• subdural+space at eMedicine Dictionary
• Haines D, Harkey H, al-Mefty O (1993). "The "subdural" space: a new look at an outdated concept". Neurosurgery 32 (1): 111–20. doi:10.1227/00006123-199301000-00017. PMID 8421539. 
• MeSH Subdural+space

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained within it may be outdated.