title: The collagenic architecture of human dura mater.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Human dura mater is the most external meningeal sheet surrounding the CNS. It provides an efficient protection to intracranial structures and represents the most important site for CSF turnover. Its intrinsic architecture is made up of fibrous tissue including collagenic and elastic fibers that guarantee the maintenance of its biophysical features. The recent technical advances in the repair of dural defects have allowed for the creation of many synthetic and biological grafts. However, no detailed studies on the 3D microscopic disposition of collagenic fibers in dura mater are available. The authors report on the collagenic 3D architecture of normal dura mater highlighting the orientation, disposition in 3 dimensions, and shape of the collagen fibers with respect to the observed layer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two dura mater specimens were collected during cranial decompressive surgical procedures, fixed in 2.5% Karnovsky solution, and digested in 1 N NaOH solution. After a routine procedure, the specimens were observed using a scanning electron microscope.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The authors distinguished the following 5 layers in the fibrous dura mater of varying thicknesses, orientation, and structures: bone surface, external median, vascular, internal median, and arachnoid layers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The description of the ultrastructural 3D organization of the different layers of dura mater will give us more information for the creation of synthetic grafts that are as similar as possible to normal dura mater. This description will be also related to the study of the neoplastic invasion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Morphology, Neurosurgical Unit, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy. marina.protasoni@uninsubria.it
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Protasoni
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sangiorgi
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cividini
authors.forename: Gloria Tiffany
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Culuvaris
authors.forename: Giustino
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tomei
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dell'Orbo
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Raspanti
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Balbi
authors.forename: Marcella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reguzzoni
mesh_terms: D003094:Collagen / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004388:Dura Mater / Q000601:surgery / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006801:Humans; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
chemical_list: D003094:Collagen