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Arachnoid Mater, Optic Nerve

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Encyclopedia of Ophthalmology

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Synonyms

Arachnoid membrane

Definition

The arachnoid mater makes up one of three meningeal layers surrounding the optic nerve and brain. From outermost to innermost, the layers are dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater. The three layers around the optic nerve are collectively referred to as the optic nerve sheath. The arachnoid mater is made up of several layers of meningothelial cells, connected together by desmosomes, as well as a collagen bundle network. Beneath the arachnoid mater, there is a subarachnoid space, which holds cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Arachnoid trabeculae traverse the subarachnoid space and insert themselves into the connective tissue of the pia mater. Blood vessels reach the optic nerve through the arachnoid trabeculae and travel along the optic nerve in the connective tissue of the pia mater. Once the optic nerve reaches the orbit, the meninges blend into the outer layer of the sclera. Increased intracranial pressure in the CSF can be transmitted to the optic...

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References

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Texas of Houston, Houston, TX, USA

    Alessandra Sugrañes

  2. Department of Ophthalmology, The Methodist Hospital, 6560 Fannin Street, Scurlock 450, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Sumayya J. Almarzouqi, Michael L. Morgan & Andrew G. Lee

  3. Departments of Ophthalmology, Neurology, and Neurosurgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, Houston, TX, USA

    Andrew G. Lee

  4. Department of Ophthalmology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA

    Andrew G. Lee

  5. Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA

    Andrew G. Lee

  6. Department of Ophthalmology, The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, USA

    Andrew G. Lee

Authors
  1. Alessandra Sugrañes
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  2. Sumayya J. Almarzouqi
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  3. Michael L. Morgan
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  4. Andrew G. Lee
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Andrew G. Lee .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept of Ophthal & Optometry,AKH, Medical University of Wien Dept of Ophthal & Optometry,AKH, Wien, Austria

    Ursula Schmidt-Erfurth

  2. Department of Ophthalmology, Goethe University of Frankfurt am Main Department of Ophthalmology, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

    Thomas Kohnen

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© 2015 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg (outside the USA)

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Sugrañes, A., Almarzouqi, S.J., Morgan, M.L., Lee, A.G. (2015). Arachnoid Mater, Optic Nerve. In: Schmidt-Erfurth, U., Kohnen, T. (eds) Encyclopedia of Ophthalmology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-35951-4_1253-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-35951-4_1253-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-35951-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference MedicineReference Module Medicine

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