Which delicate inner membrane intimately covers the brain and spinal cord?

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Multiple Choice

Which delicate inner membrane intimately covers the brain and spinal cord?

Explanation:
The delicate inner membrane that intimately covers the brain and spinal cord is the pia mater. It is the thinnest, most fragile meningeal layer and clings directly to the surface of neural tissue, following every contour—gyri and sulci—so it lies in close contact with the brain and spinal cord. It also encloses the small blood vessels that supply the CNS, embedding them as they penetrate into the brain. In contrast, the arachnoid mater sits above it as the middle layer, forming the subarachnoid space where cerebrospinal fluid circulates, and the dura mater is the tough outer layer. The parietal pleura is a thoracic membrane unrelated to the central nervous system.

The delicate inner membrane that intimately covers the brain and spinal cord is the pia mater. It is the thinnest, most fragile meningeal layer and clings directly to the surface of neural tissue, following every contour—gyri and sulci—so it lies in close contact with the brain and spinal cord. It also encloses the small blood vessels that supply the CNS, embedding them as they penetrate into the brain. In contrast, the arachnoid mater sits above it as the middle layer, forming the subarachnoid space where cerebrospinal fluid circulates, and the dura mater is the tough outer layer. The parietal pleura is a thoracic membrane unrelated to the central nervous system.

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