Blood supply of the meninges

Last revised by Sonam Vadera on 27 Aug 2019

The blood supply of the meninges generally concerns the blood supply of the outer layer of dura mater rather than the inner layer of dura mater, arachnoid or pia mater which do not require a large blood supply. There are several arteries that supply the dura in the anterior, middle, and posterior cranial fossae 1,2

Blood supply

Anterior cranial fossa
Middle cranial fossa

The supratentorial dura mater is primarily supplied by the middle meningeal artery. This is a branch of the maxillary artery, which, despite its name, primarily supplies the calvarium rather than the meninges 1,2. Clinical importance is given to this artery due to its location in the extradural space and the proximity of its anterior division to the pterion, making it susceptible to damage in head injuries 4.

Posterior cranial fossa

Related pathology 

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