Cerebrospinaler

Cerebrospinaler is a term used in some non-English medical sources to denote cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), the clear, colorless liquid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. In English-language medicine, CSF is the standard term, but cerebrospinaler may appear in translations or regional texts referring to the same fluid and the system that handles its production, circulation, and absorption.

CSF is produced primarily by the choroid plexus within the brain’s ventricular system, and it circulates through the lateral, third, and fourth ventricles into the subarachnoid space around the brain and spinal cord. It is continually renewed, with total adult volumes typically around 125 to 150 milliliters and a turnover rate of several times per day. Reabsorption occurs mainly through arachnoid granulations into the venous system, helping to maintain normal intracranial pressure.

The functions of CSF include cushioning the brain and spinal cord to reduce injury from movement, providing buoyancy to offset the brain’s mass, maintaining a stable chemical environment for neural tissue, and transporting nutrients and waste products between the brain and the bloodstream. It also participates in immune surveillance within the central nervous system.

Clinically, CSF analysis supports diagnosis of conditions such as meningitis, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and various inflammatory or malignant diseases. Procedures like lumbar puncture obtain CSF for opening pressure measurement, cell counts, protein and glucose levels, and microbiological testing. Abnormal CSF dynamics can contribute to disorders such as hydrocephalus, where accumulation or impaired absorption leads to increased intracranial pressure.