pia mater

pia mater

 [pi´ah ma´ter] (L.)

the innermost of the three meninges covering the brain and spinal cord.

pi·a mat·er

(pī'ă mā'tĕr, pē'ă mah'tĕr), [TA]

A delicate vasculated fibrous membrane firmly adherent to the glial capsule of the brain (pia mater cranialis [TA]) and spinal cord (pia mater spinalis [TA] or membrana limitans gliae); following exactly the outer markings of the cerebrum and also the ependymal lining circumference of the choroid membranes and plexus, it invests the cerebellum but not so intimately as it does the cerebrum, not dipping down into all the smaller sulci. The pia mater and the arachnoid are collectively called leptomeninx [TA], as distinguished from dura mater or pachymeninx.

Synonym(s): pia

[L. tender, affectionate mother]

pia mater

/pia ma·ter/ (pi´ah ma´ter) [L.] the innermost of the three meninges covering the brain and spinal cord.

pia mater

(mā′tər, mä′tər)

n.

The fine vascular membrane that closely envelops the brain and spinal cord under the arachnoid and the dura mater.

pia mater (pia)

[pē′ə mā′tər, pī′ə]

Etymology: L, pia, tender, mater, mother

the innermost of the three meninges covering the brain and the spinal cord. It is closely applied to both structures and carries a rich supply of blood vessels, which nourish the nervous tissue. The cranial pia mater covers the surface of the brain and dips into the fissures and sulci of the cerebral hemispheres. The spinal pia mater is thicker, firmer, and less vascular than the cranial pia mater and consists of two layers. The outer layer is composed of longitudinal collagenous fibers. The inner layer wraps the entire spinal cord and, at the end of the cord, is prolonged into the filum terminale. The pia mater also forms the denticulate ligament, which extends the entire length of the spinal cord on both sides. Compare arachnoid, dura mater. See also meninges.

pi·a mat·er

(pī'ă mā'tĕr) [TA]

A delicate, vasculated fibrous membrane firmly adherent to the glial capsule of the brain (pia mater cranialis [encephali] [TA]) and spinal cord (pia mater spinalis [TA] or membrana limitans gliae); following exactly the outer markings of the cerebrum and also the ependymal lining circumference of the choroid membranes and plexus, it invests the cerebellum but not so intimately as it does the cerebrum, not dipping down into all the smaller sulci. The pia mater and the arachnoid are collectively called leptomeninges, as distinguished from dura mater or pachymeninx.
Synonym(s): pia.

[L. tender, affectionate mother]

pia mater

The delicate, innermost layer of the MENINGES. The pia follows the convolutions of the brain, dipping into the SULCI.

pia mater

a thin, inner membrane or meninge surrounding the brain and spinal cord. see MENINGES.

pia mater

delicate, vascular and fibrous membrane covering the brain and spinal cord

pia mater 

A delicate fibrous membrane closely enveloping the brain, spinal cord and the optic nerve. It terminates at the eye.

pia mater

[L.] the innermost of the three meninges covering the brain and spinal cord.