Cerebrospinal

Cerebrospinal, commonly encountered in reference to cerebrospinal fluid or the surrounding structures, is an adjective that relates to the brain and spinal cord and to the system that protects and nourishes them, including the ventricles and meninges of the central nervous system.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is produced mainly by the choroid plexus within the brain’s ventricles. In adults, the total CSF volume is about 125 to 150 milliliters, with a turnover that replenishes the fluid several times each day. CSF is a clear, colorless fluid that supports the brain and maintains chemical stability in the CNS.

CSF circulates through the ventricular system and the subarachnoid space. It flows from the lateral ventricles to the third ventricle via the foramen of Monro, then to the fourth ventricle through the cerebral aqueduct, and from there into the subarachnoid space around the brain and spinal cord via the foramina of Luschka and Magendie. CSF is absorbed into the venous system through arachnoid granulations into the dural venous sinuses.

Functions of the cerebrospinal fluid include providing mechanical protection by cushioning the brain, offering buoyancy that reduces effective brain mass, maintaining a stable chemical environment, and facilitating the removal of metabolic waste from the CNS.

Clinical relevance centers on disorders of CSF production, flow, or absorption, such as hydrocephalus, meningitis, and intracranial pressure abnormalities. Diagnostic procedures include lumbar puncture and CSF analysis, often paired with neuroimaging to assess the CNS.