Cerebrospinal Fluid

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a clear fluid that forms in the ventricles of the brain and the spinal canal. It plays an important role in regulating intracranial pressure and metabolism between the brain and blood.

Cerebrospinal fluid is formed from blood plasma that is filtered through the walls of the capillaries of the brain and spinal cord. The fluid then enters the ventricles of the brain, where it mixes with cerebrospinal fluid, which is formed from the cerebrospinal fluid and contains proteins, glucose and other nutrients.

The amount of cerebrospinal fluid may vary depending on a person's age and health. In children it is more fluid than in adults, and in older people it may decrease due to age-related changes.

The functions of cerebrospinal fluid include:

– Maintaining intracranial pressure;
– Regulation of metabolism between blood and brain;
– Participation in the formation of spinal nerves;
– Protect the brain and spinal cord from damage.

Because of its functions, cerebrospinal fluid is an important indicator of the health of the nervous system. Changes in its amount or composition may indicate the presence of various diseases, such as infections, tumors or injuries.

To diagnose and treat diseases of the nervous system associated with cerebrospinal fluid, studies of its composition and quantity are carried out. Analysis of cerebrospinal fluid can determine the presence of infections, tumors and other pathological conditions.

Overall, cerebrospinal fluid plays an important role in maintaining the health of the nervous system and is an indicator of the health of the brain and spinal cord. Its analysis helps to identify various diseases and provide effective treatment.

Cerebrospiral fluid - Transparent fluid of yellow or gray-yellow color. It fills the ventricles of the brain and the central canal of the spinal cord. Together with the stream of cerebrospinal fluid flowing into it, this liquid is also contained in all body cavities located below the diaphragm.

Of all the cerebrospinal fluids, cerebrospinal fluid is of greatest interest for research, since a certain amount of it penetrates into the circulatory system. The composition of cerebral fluid includes a wide variety of tissue from most of the meninges and the substance of the brain and spinal cord, mainly white, nervous and connective tissue material. The main pathological changes in the cerebrospinal fluid are observed with tuberculosis, chronic inflammatory processes (syphilis, infections of the paranasal sinuses), infiltration of the membranes with tumors or other painful processes in the brain substance.

In order to determine the amount of cerebrospiral fluid produced, 5 cm3 is taken from the spine after puncture of the subarachnoid space (See) using a special needle, which is inserted into the subarachnoid space, lying between the arachnoid membrane and the dura mater, at the 2nd - 3rd level. th lumbar vertebrae. Currently, it is more common to penetrate the subarachnoial space using a lumbar puncture. For this, the patient is first examined with a urological mirror in a standing position or in bed and the location of the coccyx and sacrum is noted, after which a puncture is started under the corresponding lumbar vertebra. More precisely, they use a special needle for puncture of the spinal canal, which is an ordinary Janet syringe with a large capacity (up to 10 cm3).

To perform a lumbar puncture most correctly, the patient is first placed on his stomach, then, tilting his head slightly to the side, the pelvis and back of the head are raised slightly, simultaneously squeezing the muscles of the back and buttocks. It is determined by hand whether the needle inserted into the back is sufficient, for which the index finger is inserted through the skin and the neck of the corresponding intervertebral foramen is reached. Then, again, use your fingers to determine the thickness of the tissue layers and move the upper part (about ½) of the needle deeper. Sometimes, for more convenient access, additional punctures with needles of smaller thickness are used, for example, for posterior childbirth. You can insert the needle using another method, inserting it several times unsuccessfully, first on one side of the spine, then on the other. An indicator of correct needle insertion will be the leakage of cerebrophyte fluid and the absence of resistance to needle advancement. But if the needle has already reached the target, and the first 2-3 cm of injected liquid in the test tube are missing or stained with blood, this indicates perforation of the wall of the artery or vein,

Cerebrospinal fluid (abbr. CSF) is a biological substance that fills the brain cavity, ventricles and subarachnoid space. A person’s neurological conditions depend on the amount of cerebrospinal fluid. Liquor binds the brain and spinal cord together and is responsible for the exchange of information between the nervous system. CSF drainage is used in clinical practice for brain decompression.

Liquor appears in the human body at the 7th month of intrauterine development of the fetus. The normal level of fluid in the spinal canal remains until adulthood and most often depends on the amount of brain tissue, which, in turn, is influenced by the degree of physical development of a person and his gender. For example, men produce significantly less cerebrospinal fluid than women.

Despite the fact that cerebrospinal fluid is formed from endogenous moisture, it is not considered a type of biological fluid. The functions of cerebrospinal fluid include many vital processes of the human body. Maintaining the composition and volume of cerebrospinal fluid is necessary for the correct functioning of the brain and the maintenance of neural connections. According to medical statistics, 93% of people contain up to 150 ml of cerebrospinal fluid in their total volume, and its level can fluctuate over time and under the influence of various factors.

The main tasks of cerebrospinal fluid in the body:

Preservation of normal metabolism between nervous tissue, brain and surrounding tissues. Protective function: preventing the penetration of infection into nerve cells and tissues, therefore a high concentration of cerebrospinal fluid repels pathogenic microorganisms, essentially acting as a kind of protective barrier. So, for example, cerebrospinal fluid pressure (see below) will be increased in the presence of central nervous system pathology. Filtration of cerebrospinal fluid, removing toxic compounds, heavy metal salts, and other products of metabolism and cell breakdown. Some cerebrospinal fluid factors are used additionally to give a full diagnosis and describe the clinical picture of some pathologies: The level of globulin in the cerebrospinal fluid reflects the condition of the liver and lipid metabolism: normal protein balance is typical for healthy people, increased values ​​are noted in liver failure or gastrointestinal pathology. The presence of cytosis (the number of leukocytes) provides information about inflammatory processes in the body. The study is carried out if meningitis, abscess, or tumors are suspected. Diabetes mellitus disrupts CSF glucose levels. If it is high or low, it may be caused by poor control of diabetes, as well as pathology of the adrenal glands. For an accurate diagnosis of cerebrospinal fluid, a whole range of tests are prescribed that reveal in detail all aspects of the patient’s health status. For example, general cerebrospinal fluid takes the average value, while special cerebrospinal fluid maximally identifies deviations in indicators and the reasons for their changes.