Spinaalivirtsan

Spinaalivirtsan is the Finnish term for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), the clear, colorless liquid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. It is produced mainly by the choroid plexuses within the brain’s ventricles, circulates through the ventricular system and subarachnoid space, and is absorbed into the venous bloodstream via arachnoid granulations. Normal CSF has a low protein content and very few cells, with glucose levels roughly equal to those in the blood.

Its primary functions are to cushion neural tissue, maintain a stable chemical environment, and aid in the exchange of nutrients and waste between the brain and bloodstream. CSF also helps to buoy the brain, reducing effective weight and protecting against injury.

Diagnosis and research rely on sampling CSF by lumbar puncture. Collected CSF is analyzed for opening pressure, cell counts, protein, glucose, and microbiological tests, and may be subjected to imaging or molecular assays to detect infections, inflammatory conditions, bleeding, or neoplasms.

Abnormal CSF findings support diagnoses such as meningitis, subarachnoid hemorrhage, intracranial or spinal infections, inflammatory diseases (for example multiple sclerosis), and neoplasms involving the meninges or central nervous system. Conditions causing CSF leaks or obstructed flow can lead to hydrocephalus or intracranial hypotension.

Safety: Lumbar puncture carries risks including headache, infection, and bleeding, and is performed under sterile conditions with patient monitoring.