II. Definitions
- Cerebrospinal Fluid
- Clear, colorless fluid produced in the Choroid plexus within the walls of the Cerebral Ventricles
- CSF typically contains no white or Red Blood Cells (WBCs or RBCs) and low levels of Protein
- CSF is produced in the Choroid plexus of fluid filled chambers known as ventricles
- Flows through the Cerebral Ventricles within the subarachnoid space
- Surrounds and protects the brain and spinal cord
- Clear, colorless fluid produced in the Choroid plexus within the walls of the Cerebral Ventricles
III. Physiology
-
Choroid Plexus: Formation of CSF
- Tufts of capillaries in Lateral Ventricles
- Produces CSF at 20 ml/hour (up to 500 ml/day)
- Pathway
- See Cerebral Ventricle for Cerebrospinal Flow
- CSF flows down Magendie and Luschka canals and via subarachnoid space around the brain and spinal cord
- CSF Reabsorption
- CSF reabsorption at the arachnoid villi and dural sinuses
- Drains into the internal Jugular Veins
- CSF Volume
- Total CSF in circulation: 140 ml
- Distribution
- Ventricles: 25 ml
- Subarachnoid space: 115 ml
IV. References
- Gilman (1989) Manter and Gatz Essentials of Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology, Davis, p. 232-7
- Goldberg (2014) Clinical Neuroanatomy, p. 6-15