Microbiology and Immunology 2500A/B Lecture Notes - Meningitis, Pia Mater, Dura Mater

• School: Western University
• Department: Microbiology and Immunology
• Course: Microbiology and Immunology 2500A/B
• Professor: John Mc Cormick

Document Summary

Meningitis is usually due to viral (less severe; can be resolved without specific treatment) or bacteria infection (very severe). The meninges are membranes that envelop the cns (brain and spinal cord), and it includes the dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater. Cerebrospinal fluid is located between the arachnoid and pia maters (subarachnoid space). The bbb is a protective cellular structure that restricts the passage of chemicals, toxins, and microorganisms from the blood to the cns not the same as the meninges. If you inject a die into the csf, the brain turns blue while the rest of the body"s compartments did not, showing that there is a barrier that compartmentalizes these two structures (bbb). Due to the bbb, the cns is an immune privileged site, meaning that if you put something exogenous in, you wont get any infection. Astrocytes are located in the brain and provide support for other cells of the cns including the bbb.