What are the meninges?

The meninges are indeed the connective tissues that cover and protect the brain and spinal cord. This triple-layered protective membrane consists of three distinct layers: the dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater.

The outermost layer, the dura mater, is a tough and durable layer that provides a protective barrier. The middle layer, the arachnoid mater, has a web-like structure that allows for the flow of cerebrospinal fluid between it and the pia mater, the innermost layer, which closely adheres to the surface of the brain and spinal cord and provides additional support.

These tissues are essential for maintaining the overall integrity of the central nervous system (CNS), offering protection against trauma and helping to regulate the environment surrounding the nervous tissue. In contrast, the other provided options refer to different aspects of the nervous system or muscle function that do not address the structural and protective role of the meninges. Nerve fibers are involved in transmitting signals, cell structures in the cerebral cortex relate to the functional areas of the brain, and muscle tissues are responsible for movement, none of which pertain to the protective layers around the CNS.