Falx cerebri

The falx cerebri (also known as the cerebral falx) is a large, crescent-shaped fold of dura mater that descends vertically into the longitudinal fissure between the cerebral hemispheres of the human brain,[1] separating the two hemispheres and supporting dural sinuses that provide venous and CSF drainage to the brain.[2]

Not to be confused with falx cerebelli.
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.)
Details
Part ofMeninges
Identifiers
LatinFalx cerebri
NeuroNames1237
TA98A14.1.01.103
TA25374
FMA83967
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy

The falx cerebri is often subject to age-related calcification, and a site of falcine meningiomas.[2]

The falx cerebri is named for its sickle-like form.

Anatomy

The falx cerebri is a strong, crescent-shaped sheet lying in the sagittal plane.[3] It is a dural formation (one of four dural partitions of the brain along with the falx cerebelli, tentorium cerebelli, and diaphragma sellae); it is formed through invagination of the dura mater into the longitudinal fissure between the cerebral hemispheres.[2]

Anteriorly, the falx cerebri is narrower, thinner, and may have a number of perforations. It is broader posteriorly.[3]

Attachments

The falx cerebri attaches anteriorly at the crista galli (proximally to the cribriform plate and to the frontal and ethmoid sinuses).[1]

Posteriorly, it blends into the upper surface of the cerebellar tentorium.[3]

Its convex superior margin is attached to the internal surface of the skull on either side of the midline. This attachment runs as far back as the internal occipital protuberance (the latter representing its posterior-most point of attachment[2]); the superior sagittal sinus runs in the cranial groove between the falx cerebri's two attachments.[3]

The (concave) inferior margin of the falx cerebri is free.[3]

Vascular supply

The falx cerebri receives its blood supply primarily from two vessels; the anterior portion receives blood supply from the anterior meningeal artery (a.k.a. anterior falx artery, or anterior falcine artery) (a branch of the anterior ethmoidal artery), and the posterior portion from the posterior meningeal artery (a branch of the ascending pharyngeal artery).[2]

Lymphatic drainage of the falx cerebri occurs mostly via meningeal lymphatic vessels that run parallel to the dural sinuses and that eventually exit the cranial vault through the jugular foramen to empty into deep cervical lymph nodes. A minority of lymph from the falx cerebri is drained anteriorly through the cribiform plate into the lymphatics of the nasal mucosa.[2]

Innervation

The falx cerebri receives innervaton from all three branches of the trigeminal nerve. It receives symphatetic innervation predominantly from the superior cervical ganglia. It may receive additional innervation from dorsal rami of CN 1 and CN 2, the hypoglossal nerve, and recurrent branches of the vagus nerve.[2]

Anatomical relations

The falx cerebri is situated in the longitudinal fissure, in between the cerebral hemispheres.[3] The corpus callosum lies immediately inferior to the lower (free) margin of falx cerebri.[2]

Dural venous sinuses

The superior sagittal sinus is contained in the superior margin of the falx cerebri and overlies the longitudinal fissure of the brain.[1]

The inferior sagittal sinus is contained in the inferior[1] free[3] margin of the falx cerebri and arches over the corpus callosum, deep within the longitudinal fissure.[1]

The straight sinus courses along the juncture of the falx cerebri and cerebellar tentorium.[3]

Anatomical variation

Total or partial agenesis of the falx cerebri may occur, and may result in adherence of the cerebral hemispheres across the midline. Agenesis is usually associated with other developmental complications; falx cerebri agenesis in absence of other neural symptoms is exceedingly rare.[2]

Microanatomy

The falx cerebri contains blood vessels, and nerves.[2]

Clinical significance

Calcification

Calcification of the falx cerebri is more prevalent in older patients, often without a determinable cause, and without pathogenic symptoms.[4]

Meningioma

Falcine meningioma is a meningioma arising from the falx cerebri and completely concealed by the overlying cortex. Falcine meningioma tends to grow predominantly into one cerebral hemisphere but is often bilateral, and in some patients the tumor grows into the inferior edge of the sagittal sinus. However, although much information is available regarding meningiomas, little is known about falcine meningiomas.[5]

Surgical landmark

The falx cerebri is a significal surgical landmark for access of the lateral ventricles via the interhemispheric transcallosal approach; agenesis (complete or partial) of the falx cerebri results in the adherence of the cerebral hemispheres, blocking midline transcallosal surgical access to the ventricles.[2]

Subfalcine brain herniation

Subfalcine herniation of the cingulate gyrus may occur following traumatic brain injury.[2]

Additional images
  • Falx cerebri in relation to the skull.
  • Frontal bone. Inner surface.
  • Sagittal section of the skull, showing the sinuses of the dura.
  • Human brain dura mater (reflections)
  • Falx cerebri

See also

References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 873 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

  1. Saladin K. "Anatomy & Physiology: The Unity of Form and Function. New York: McGraw Hill, 2014. Print. pp 512, 770-773
  2. Bair, Michael M.; Munakomi, Sunil (2022), "Neuroanatomy, Falx Cerebri", StatPearls, Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, PMID 31424888, retrieved 2022-04-26
  3. Standring, Susan (2021). Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice (42nd ed.). New York: Elsavier. ISBN 978-0-7020-7707-4. OCLC 1201341621.
  4. Daghighi MH, Rezaei V, Zarrintan S, Pourfathi H (2007). "Intracranial physiological calcifications in adults on computed tomography in Tabriz, Iran." Folia Morphol (Warsz). 66 (2):115-9. PMID 17594669
  5. Chung SB, Kim CY, Park CK, Kim DG, Jung HW (2007). "Falx Meningiomas: Surgical Results and Lessons Learned from 68 Cases." J Korean Neurosurg Soc. 42 (4): 276-280. PMC 2588203
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