Falx cerebri

Brain: Falx cerebri
Dura mater and its processes exposed by removing part of the right half of the skull and the brain.
Diagrammatic representation of a section across the top of the skull, showing the membranes of the brain, etc. (Falx cerebri is yellow line running down center.)
Gray's	subject #193 873
Part of	Meninges
NeuroNames	ancil-258

The falx cerebri, also known as the cerebral falx, so named from its sickle-like form, is a strong, arched fold of dura mater which descends vertically in the longitudinal fissure between the cerebral hemispheres.

It is narrow in front, where it is attached to the crista galli of the ethmoid; and broad behind, where it is connected with the upper surface of the tentorium cerebelli.

Its upper margin is convex, and attached to the inner surface of the skull in the middle line, as far back as the internal occipital protuberance; it contains the superior sagittal sinus. Its lower margin is free and concave, and contains the inferior sagittal sinus.

The Falx cerebri is known to calcify with age.

Additional images

Frontal bone. Inner surface.

Sagittal section of the skull, showing the sinuses of the dura.

Human brain dura mater (reflections)

External links

• SUNY Labs 28:st-1602
• MedEd at Loyola grossanatomy/dissector/labs/h_n/cranium/cn1_1a.htm

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated.