Differences in the mineral contents between falx cerebri and tentorium cerebelli

To elucidate age-related changes of the dura mater, the authors investigated age-related changes of mineral contents in the falx cerebri and the tentorium cerebelli by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. The subjects consisted of 10 men and 15 women, ranging in age from 65 to 102 yr. The contents of calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium increased progressively with aging in the falx cerebri, whereas the contents of sulfur, iron, and zinc remained constant, being independent of age. In regard to the tentorium cerebelli, the contents of calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium seemed to increase progressively with aging, but the contents of sulfur, iron, and zinc hardly changed with aging. It was noteworthy that there were no significant relationships between the falx cerebri and the tentorium cerebelli in such element contents as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sulfur, iron, and zinc.