Biomaterial Database

Cerebrospinal fluid and lumbar puncture: a practical review. 2012

Ben L C Wright, and James T F Lai, and Alexandra J Sinclair

Department of Neurology, University Hospital of North Staffordshire NHS Trust, Stoke on Trent, ST4 7LN, UK.

Cerebrospinal fluid is vital for normal brain function. Changes to the composition, flow, or pressure can cause a variety of neurological symptoms and signs. Equally, disorders of nervous tissue may alter cerebrospinal fluid characteristics. Analysis of cerebrospinal fluid can provide information on diagnosis, may be therapeutic in certain conditions, and allows a research opportunity into neurological disease. However, inappropriate sampling, inaccurate technique, and incomplete analysis can contribute to significant patient morbidity, and reduce the amount of accurate information obtained. In this article, we will review how cerebrospinal fluid is produced, circulated, and resorbed. We will also review lumbar puncture technique, equipment, and cerebrospinal fluid analysis. We also discuss how to minimize the risks and address the complications associated with lumbar puncture.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007427	Intracranial Pressure	Pressure within the cranial cavity. It is influenced by brain mass, the circulatory system, CSF dynamics, and skull rigidity.	Intracerebral Pressure,Subarachnoid Pressure,Intracerebral Pressures,Intracranial Pressures,Pressure, Intracerebral,Pressure, Intracranial,Pressure, Subarachnoid,Pressures, Intracerebral,Pressures, Intracranial,Pressures, Subarachnoid,Subarachnoid Pressures
D002555	Cerebrospinal Fluid	A watery fluid that is continuously produced in the CHOROID PLEXUS and circulates around the surface of the BRAIN; SPINAL CORD; and in the CEREBRAL VENTRICLES.	Cerebro Spinal Fluid,Cerebro Spinal Fluids,Cerebrospinal Fluids,Fluid, Cerebro Spinal,Fluid, Cerebrospinal,Fluids, Cerebro Spinal,Fluids, Cerebrospinal,Spinal Fluid, Cerebro,Spinal Fluids, Cerebro
D006470	Hemorrhage	Bleeding or escape of blood from a vessel.	Bleeding,Hemorrhages
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013129	Spinal Puncture	Tapping fluid from the subarachnoid space in the lumbar region, usually between the third and fourth lumbar vertebrae.	Lumbar Puncture,Spinal Tap,Lumbar Punctures,Puncture, Lumbar,Puncture, Spinal,Punctures, Lumbar,Punctures, Spinal,Spinal Punctures,Spinal Taps,Tap, Spinal,Taps, Spinal