Cerebrospinal fluid

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a clear, colorless <a href="/facts/Extracellular_fluid/hzm4qatP">transcellular body fluid</a> found within the <a href="/facts/Meninges/IcxhShYH">meningeal tissue</a> that surrounds the <a href="/facts/Vertebrate/tT54FSTT">vertebrate</a> <a href="/facts/Brain/EKla9NkJ">brain</a> and <a href="/facts/Spinal_cord/XbWLr917">spinal cord</a>, and in the <a href="/facts/Ventricular_system/VMuY39Kp">ventricles</a> of the brain.
CSF is mostly produced by specialized <a href="/facts/Ependyma/eyHxnkyt">ependymal cells</a> in the <a href="/facts/Choroid_plexus/glqWkmkG">choroid plexuses</a> of the ventricles of the brain, and absorbed in the <a href="/facts/Arachnoid_granulation/PWCF6fp1">arachnoid granulations</a>. It is also produced by ependymal cells in the lining of the ventricles. In humans, there is about 125 mL of CSF at any one time, and about 500 mL is generated every day. CSF acts as a shock absorber, cushion or buffer, providing basic mechanical and <a href="/facts/Immune_system/HRCTf1pb">immunological protection</a> to the brain inside the <a href="/facts/Human_skull/A9Wp63Np">skull</a>. CSF also serves a vital function in the <a href="/facts/Cerebral_autoregulation/gsv2mXjy">cerebral autoregulation</a> of <a href="/facts/Cerebral_blood_flow/e9E1ED4B">cerebral blood flow</a>.
CSF occupies the <a href="/facts/Subarachnoid_space/IcxhShYH">subarachnoid space</a> (between the <a href="/facts/Arachnoid_mater/fmWI3KT0">arachnoid mater</a> and the <a href="/facts/Pia_mater/8Kt6sdD1">pia mater</a>) and the <a href="/facts/Ventricular_system/VMuY39Kp">ventricular system</a> around and inside the brain and spinal cord. It fills the <a href="/facts/Ventricular_system/VMuY39Kp">ventricles</a> of the brain, <a href="/facts/Subarachnoid_cisterns/q5CMFzkF">cisterns</a>, and <a href="/facts/Sulcus_(neuroanatomy)/vI7rExrN">sulci</a>, as well as the <a href="/facts/Central_canal/8QJK2bDU">central canal</a> of the spinal cord. There is also a connection from the subarachnoid space to the <a href="/facts/Bony_labyrinth/SJxQ8lTT">bony labyrinth</a> of the <a href="/facts/Inner_ear/rpxdngm7">inner ear</a> via the <a href="/facts/Perilymphatic_duct/8Memp6ru">perilymphatic duct</a> where the <a href="/facts/Perilymph/Wv1ALVSl">perilymph</a> is continuous with the cerebrospinal fluid. The ependymal cells of the choroid plexus have multiple <a href="/facts/Cilium/C9l436HM">motile cilia</a> on their apical surfaces that beat to move the CSF through the ventricles.
A sample of CSF can be taken from around the spinal cord via <a href="/facts/Lumbar_puncture/uKwxHqpd">lumbar puncture</a>. This can be used to test the <a href="/facts/Intracranial_pressure/GVyhAWpH">intracranial pressure</a>, as well as indicate diseases including <a href="/facts/Encephalitis/auHEjvrD">infections of the brain</a> or the surrounding <a href="/facts/Meningitis/4m4STzJB">meninges</a>.
Although noted by <a href="/facts/Hippocrates/lXUElFQD">Hippocrates</a>, it was forgotten for centuries, though later was described in the 18th century by <a href="/facts/Emanuel_Swedenborg/QE3Pcl8U">Emanuel Swedenborg</a>. In 1914, <a href="/facts/Harvey_Cushing/CHgABVnf">Harvey Cushing</a> demonstrated that CSF is secreted by the choroid plexus.

Cerebrospinal fluid open-in-new

Cerebrospinal fluid