dura mater

[ door-uh mey-ter ]

noun

, Anatomy.

1. the tough, fibrous membrane forming the outermost of the three coverings of the brain and spinal cord.

dura mater

/ ˈdjʊərə ˈmeɪtə /

noun

1. the outermost and toughest of the three membranes covering the brain and spinal cord Often shortened todura See also meninges

dura mater

/ dr′əmā′tər,mä′- /

1. The tough fibrous membrane covering the brain and the spinal cord and lining the inner surface of the skull. It is the outermost of the three membranes (meninges) that surround the central nervous system, overlying the arachnoid and pia mater.

Word History and Origins

Origin of dura mater¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Medieval Latin: literally, “hard mother,” loan translation of Arabic umm al-dimāgh al-ṣafīcah, Arabic umm “mother” also serving as an indicator of relationship between things; pia mater ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of dura mater¹

C15: from Medieval Latin, hard mother

Example Sentences

Upon exiting the brain, contaminated fluid must pass through a barrier before spilling into the lymphatic vessels in the dura mater -- the outer tissue layer enveloping the brain underneath the skull.

From Science Daily

"The immune system uses molecules to communicate that cross from the brain into the dura mater," said Kipnis.

From Science Daily

Using special mice where cells light up fluorescent green when they make IL-17, the researchers confirmed that hypertension increases IL-17 in the dura mater which is then released into the tissue.

From Science Daily

Neurosurgeons implant disk-shaped electrodes inside the skull, underneath the tough, leatherlike membrane known as the dura mater.

From Scientific American

I then punctured the dura mater, the covering of the brain.

From Washington Post