title: The intracranial arachnoid mater : a comprehensive review of its history, anatomy, imaging, and pathology.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The arachnoid mater is a delicate and avascular layer that lies in direct contact with the dura and is separated from the pia mater by the cerebrospinal fluid-filled subarachnoid space. The subarachnoid space is divided into cisterns named according to surrounding brain structures.
  
  
  METHODS
  The medical literature on this meningeal layer was reviewed in regard to historical aspects, etymology, embryology, histology, and anatomy with special emphasis on the arachnoid cisterns. Cerebrospinal fluid dynamics are discussed along with a section devoted to arachnoid cysts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Knowledge on the arachnoid mater and cerebrospinal fluid dynamics has evolved over time and is of great significance to the neurosurgeon in clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Neurosurgery, Children's Hospital, JFL Bld. 400 TCHA, 1600 7th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA.
authors.forename: Nimer
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Adeeb
authors.forename: Aman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Deep
authors.forename: Christoph J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Griessenauer
authors.forename: Martin M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Mortazavi
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Marios
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Loukas
authors.forename: R Shane
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Tubbs
authors.forename: Aaron A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Cohen-Gadol
mesh_terms: D001099:Arachnoid / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000196:embryology; D016080:Arachnoid Cysts / Q000266:history / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000502:physiology; D016208:Databases, Factual; D004388:Dura Mater / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000196:embryology; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans