Dura mater

The dura mater is the outermost and most resilient of the three meningeal layers enveloping the brain and spinal cord (StatPearls, NBK545301). It is composed of dense, fibrous connective tissue and serves primarily as a protective barrier for the central nervous system and a conduit for the dural venous sinuses (NIH NCI Thesaurus). Although the dura mater is an anatomical structure rather than a specific molecular target, it is clinically significant as the site for epidural drug administration and is heavily involved in the pathophysiology of intracranial pressure disorders and primary headaches (PubMed, PMID: 30039169). The dura is densely innervated by nociceptive fibers from the trigeminal nerve, which play a central role in the generation of migraine pain when activated by inflammatory mediators (The Journal of Headache and Pain, 2018). Consequently, while the dura itself is not a protein or receptor, the physiological processes occurring within its layers are major focuses of neurological and anesthetic research.

Other names

PachymeninxDural membraneTheca

The dura mater is an anatomical structure rather than a molecular target; drugs typically interact with nerves within the dura or use the dural space for regional anesthesia (StatPearls, NBK545301).