Meninges are best described as:

• A. The fatty tissue surrounding the brain.
• B. Protective layers of the brain and spinal cord.
• C. The outer covering of the skull bone.
• D. Nerves that regulate breathing.

Answer: (B)

Meninges are a protective layer around the brain and spinal cord. They’re a trio of membranes—the dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater—that encase the central nervous system, cushion it, and help contain cerebrospinal fluid. This envelope is distinct from fatty tissue surrounding the brain (scalp fat), from the skull’s outer periosteal covering, and from nerves involved in breathing. Understanding their protective role helps explain why headaches, neck stiffness, or signs of increased intracranial pressure can occur when the meninges are inflamed or injured.