dural

Dural is an anatomical adjective meaning relating to the dura mater, the tough outer membrane that encloses the brain and spinal cord. In medical terminology, the term is used for structures and features derived from or associated with the dura mater, such as dural venous sinuses, dural folds (including the falx cerebri and tentorium cerebelli), and the dural sac surrounding the spinal cord.

The dura mater consists of two layers in the cranial region: an outer periosteal layer that adheres to the skull and an inner meningeal layer. These layers form reflections that partition parts of the brain and create dural sinuses that drain venous blood. In the spinal canal, the dura forms the thecal sac that contains cerebrospinal fluid and the spinal cord.

In clinical contexts, the dura can be injured via trauma or punctured in procedures such as lumbar puncture or regional anesthesia, potentially causing cerebrospinal fluid leak and post-dural puncture headache. Dural-based tumors can arise from meningeal tissues, though they are relatively uncommon compared with other intracranial tumors.

Dural also appears as a toponym. Dural is a suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, located in the Hills District.