During a procedure allied a lumbar puncture, CSF surrounding the meninges is wit

Question

During a procedure allied a lumbar puncture, CSF surrounding the meninges is withdrawn with a needle. This procedure generally is performed between 1.3 and 1.5. Why do you think the fluid is withdrawn here rather than from higher up in the vertebral column (e.g., the cervical vertebrae)? Often, the sampled CSF is tested for bacteria or viruses if a brain infection is suspected. Why would CSF sampled from the spinal cord give you information about the condition of the brain? An individual sustains injuries to only the descending tracts of the spinal cord. Will this person experience deficits in movement, sensation, both, or neither? Explain.

Explanation / Answer

5). The lumbar spine consists of 5 moveable vertebrae numbered L1-L5.The lumbar vertebrae have a vertical height which is less than their horizontal diameter. They are composed of the 3 functional parts;The vertebral body, designed to bear weight, The vertebral (neural) arch, designed to protect the neural elements, The bony processes (spinous and transverse), which function to increase the efficiency of muscle action.

The lumbar vertebrae are the heaviest components, connected together by the intervertebral discs. The size of the vertebrae increases from L1 to L5, indicative of the increasing loads that each lower lumbar vertebra absorbs. The L5 vertebra has the heaviest body, smallest spinous process, and thickest transverse process. These anatomical features makes these vertebrae suitable and safe for puncture to draw CSF. Moreover , The cerebrospinal fluid can be accessed most safely in the lumbar region. Nerves continue down the spine below this, but in a loose bundle of nerve fibers called the cauda equina. There is lower risk with inserting a needle into the spine at the level of the cauda equina because these loose fibers move out of the way of the needle without being damaged.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a clear, colorless fluid which is produced in the choroid plexuses of the ventricles of the brain. From here CSF circulates to different parts of brain and spinal cord providing mechanical cushion and distribute nutrients to nervous tissue cells. Being produced in the brain it can carry any pathogen or bacteria if present in brain to other areas. Therefore sample of this fluid drawn from any region such as spinal cord can provide information about condition of the brain.

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse D
• Subjects

---

---

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.