What is the cerebrospinal fluid?
The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a clear, colorless fluid that is low in protein and cells. An adult has about 130 to 150 milliliters of cerebrospinal fluid. About one-fourth of it is in the cerebral ventricles (ventricles), and three-fourths surrounds the brain and spinal cord as an enveloping mantle of fluid.
CSF: Cerebrospinal fluid and spinal cord fluid
How much cerebrospinal fluid does a person have?
About 500 to 700 milliliters of CSF are newly formed every day. So much of it is reabsorbed via the granulationes arachnoidales (growths of the arachnoid) and nerve roots that the total amount of circulating CSF does not exceed 150 to 200 milliliters.
What is the significance of the CSF?
The cerebrospinal fluid is also the origin of the perilymph. This is the aqueous fluid in the inner ear.
The connection of the spinal cord and brain via the cerebrospinal fluid space is used therapeutically in spinal or lumbar anesthesia. This is a conduction anesthesia in which the medication is delivered directly to the subarachnoid space via a puncture of the lumbar area.
What problems can the CSF cause?
In the event of an inflammatory process in the brain or spinal cord, the cell count of white blood cells (leukocytes) in the CSF is increased. The physician can determine this by taking a sample of cerebrospinal fluid and having it examined in the laboratory (CSF diagnostics). If red blood cells (erythrocytes) are found in the CSF, this indicates a subarachnoid hemorrhage (bleeding in the subarachnoid space).
Physicians refer to the obstruction of normal cerebrospinal fluid circulation as a cerebrospinal fluid blockade. Possible causes are hemorrhages, inflammations, tumors, but also a herniated disc. If CSF is blocked in the ventricles, hydrocephalus internus develops; if it is blocked in the spinal cord, a paraplegic syndrome develops.
When cerebrospinal fluid leaks from the nose or ear, doctors refer to it as cerebrospinal fluid edema. The reason is usually a skull base fracture.
