What structure supplies oxygen and nutrients to the superficial tissues of the brain and spinal cord?

The structure that supplies oxygen and nutrients to the superficial tissues of the brain and spinal cord is the meninges. The meninges are protective membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord, consisting of three layers: the dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater. The pia mater, which is the innermost layer, is particularly important because it is closely adhered to the brain and spinal cord surfaces, allowing for the exchange of nutrients and waste between the nervous tissue and the blood vessels that traverse this layer.

The blood supply to the brain and spinal cord is essential for maintaining their function, and the meninges play a critical role in facilitating this process. They contain blood vessels that deliver oxygen and nutrients necessary for neuronal health and function.

Other structures such as the skull, cerebrospinal fluid, and ventricles primarily serve protective or supportive roles but do not directly supply oxygen and nutrients to the tissues of the brain and spinal cord like the meninges do. The skull provides a bony protection, cerebrospinal fluid cushions and helps with buoyancy, while the ventricles produce and contain the cerebrospinal fluid, which also plays a role in nutrient transport but is not the primary supply mechanism in this context.