The pia mater: a comprehensive review of literature

The pia mater has received less attention in the literature compared to the dura and arachnoid maters. However, its presence as a direct covering of the nervous system and direct relation to the blood vessels gives it a special importance in neurosurgery. A comprehensive review of the literature was conducted to study all that we could find relating to the pia mater, including history, macro- and microanatomy, embryology, and a full description of the related structures. The pia mater has an important anatomic position, rich history, complicated histology and embryology, and a significant contribution to a number of other structures that may stabilize and protect the nervous system.