The tough, outermost membrane that covers the brain and spinal cord, protecting the nervous system.
From Latin 'dura' (feminine of 'durus,' meaning hard). The full Latin name was 'dura mater' (hard mother), contrasting with the softer inner membranes.
The brain's protective layers have poetic Latin names—'dura mater' (hard mother), 'arachnoid' (spider-like), and 'pia mater' (tender mother)—showing how medieval doctors saw them as layers of care around the brain!
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