NCERT Class 11 Science — Chapter 8: Neural Control and Coordination

mcqeasy

Which of the following is the outermost meningeal layer covering the human brain?

Official previous-year question

Verified 1 Aug 2026.

Options

APia mater
BPerineurium
CArachnoid
DDura mater

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Solution

The correct option is Dura mater.

Explanation

The human brain and spinal cord are enclosed and protected by three distinct connective tissue membranes known collectively as the meninges. These layers provide physical protection and contain the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

Dura mater: This is the outermost meningeal layer. It is a thick, tough, and fibrous membrane that lines the inner surface of the skull bones. Its primary function is to provide strong protection to the brain.
Arachnoid mater: This is the middle layer, situated between the dura mater and the pia mater. It has a spider-web-like structure. The space beneath this layer, known as the subarachnoid space, contains cerebrospinal fluid.
Pia mater: This is the innermost layer. It is a delicate, thin, and highly vascularized membrane that adheres closely to the surface of the brain, following its contours (gyri and sulci).
Perineurium: This is incorrect in this context. The perineurium is a connective tissue sheath that surrounds bundles of nerve fibers (fascicles) in the peripheral nervous system, not the central nervous system.

Key Takeaway: The arrangement of the meninges from the outside (skull) to the inside (brain tissue) is Dura mater → Arachnoid mater → Pia mater.

Your note

More from Chapter 8: Neural Control and Coordination

With reference to coordination in the human body, consider the following statements: 1. Neural pathways enable rapid point-to-point signalling. 2. Hormones provide electrical integration across organs. 3. Both systems jointly ensure synchronised organ function. Which of the statements given above are correct?

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Consider the following statements about synapses: 1. Electrical synapses transmit faster than chemical synapses. 2. Chemical synapses have closely apposed membranes with no cleft. 3. Electrical synapses are rare in humans. Which of the statements given above are correct?

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Assertion (A): Impulse transmission across an electrical synapse is very similar to impulse conduction along a single axon. Reason (R): At electrical synapses, the membranes of the pre- and post-synaptic neurons are in very close proximity, allowing current to flow directly.

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Consider the following statements: 1. The cerebral cortex contains only motor areas. 2. Association areas are responsible for intersensory associations, memory and communication. 3. Sensory areas are present in the cortex. Which of the statements given above are correct?

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Assertion (A): In a resting neuron, the axonal membrane is positively charged outside and negatively charged inside. Reason (R): The sodium-potassium pump transports 3 Na+ into the cell for every 2 K+ transported out.

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The correct option is Dura mater.

Explanation

Dura mater: This is the outermost meningeal layer. It is a thick, tough, and fibrous membrane that lines the inner surface of the skull bones. Its primary function is to provide strong protection to the brain.
Arachnoid mater: This is the middle layer, situated between the dura mater and the pia mater. It has a spider-web-like structure. The space beneath this layer, known as the subarachnoid space, contains cerebrospinal fluid.
Pia mater: This is the innermost layer. It is a delicate, thin, and highly vascularized membrane that adheres closely to the surface of the brain, following its contours (gyri and sulci).
Perineurium: This is incorrect in this context. The perineurium is a connective tissue sheath that surrounds bundles of nerve fibers (fascicles) in the peripheral nervous system, not the central nervous system.

Key Takeaway: The arrangement of the meninges from the outside (skull) to the inside (brain tissue) is Dura mater → Arachnoid mater → Pia mater.