dura mater

noun

du·​ra ma·​ter ˈdu̇r-ə-ˌmā-tər 

ˈdyu̇r-,

-ˌmä-

: the tough fibrous membrane that envelops the brain and spinal cord external to the arachnoid and pia mater

Examples of dura mater in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In cases where a hematoma is located near the brain, for instance, blood can collect between the covering of the brain (called the dura mater) and the surface of the brain. —Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 24 Apr. 2024

The fluid would then flow through the dura mater, the outer layer of tissue between the brain and the skull, taking the junk with it. —Elizabeth Rayne, Ars Technica, 14 Apr. 2024

Motif Neuroscience In a proof-of-concept experiment with a human volunteer who was already undergoing brain surgery, Robinson’s team demonstrated that their tiny device (about 9 millimeters across) could stimulate the brain through the dura mater. —IEEE Spectrum, 16 Oct. 2023

In a preprint paper posted to the server medRxiv, neural engineers describe a tiny wireless device that could be implanted below the skull but above a protective membrane called the dura mater that surrounds the brain. —IEEE Spectrum, 16 Oct. 2023

Today, neurosurgeons make a burr hole in the skull, which exposes the dura mater. —Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 2 Nov. 2021

The accounts said Oliverson was believed to have fractured his skull and suffered an epidural hematoma, which sees blood build between the skull and dura mater, the outermost layer protecting the brain. —Chantal Da Silva, NBC News, 17 Aug. 2022

An epidural hematoma involves bleeding from a ruptured blood vessel in the space between the skull and the covering around the brain, called the dura mater. —Ashley Abramson, Health.com, 14 Feb. 2022

The inside, the dura mater, which means 'tough mother,' is a tough lining of skin around the brain. —Miriam Fauzia, USA TODAY, 9 July 2020

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Medieval Latin, literally, hard mother

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

dura mater

noun

du·​ra ma·​ter ˈd(y)u̇r-ə-ˌmāt-ər  -ˌmät- 

: the tough fibrous membrane lined with endothelium on the inner surface that envelops the brain and spinal cord external to the arachnoid and pia mater, that in the cranium closely lines the bone, does not dip down between the convolutions, and contains numerous blood vessels and venous sinuses, and that in the spinal cord is separated from the bone by a considerable space and contains no venous sinuses

called also dura