| Raised intra-cranial pressure due to communicating | | | | present in the ventricles. |
| or non-communicating hydrocephalus is one the | | | | The usual pressure in the recumbent state is 10 |
| common neurological entity in the pediatric group | | | | to 15 cms of CSF and there are less than 3 to 4 |
| of patients. It usually presents with symptoms like | | | | white cells per mm cube present in the CSF in |
| projectile vomiting, severe headache, loss of or | | | | normal state. The protein content is 0.15 to 0.45 |
| altered consciousness. Parents are often curious | | | | gram per liter and the glucose content is 2.8 to |
| to know more about the fluid that gets | | | | 4.2 mmol per liter. The CSF glucose content is |
| accumulated leading to hydrocephalus. This article | | | | approximately 65 per cent of the blood plasma |
| will discuss few things about cerebrospinal fluid or | | | | level in the fasting state. 10 - 12% of the total |
| CSF as is commonly referred to as. | | | | protein is of IgG typte and chloride content |
| The CSF is produced by a structure called as | | | | accounts for up to 120 to 130 mmol per liter. |
| choroid plexus which is located in the ventricles | | | | The CSF is ually clear and colorless, but will appear |
| [these are the cavities in the brain]. The rate of | | | | turbid if it contains more than four hundred white |
| production is almost 0.3 to 0.4 ml per minute. The | | | | blood cells or two hundred red blood cells per |
| fluid circulates from the lateral ventricles into the | | | | cubic mm. Yellow discoloration, which is also |
| third ventricle, passing through the foramen of | | | | known as xanthochromia, is due to the |
| Munro or the interventricular foramen. From there | | | | breakdown products of red blood cells - which is |
| it is carried to the forth ventricle through the | | | | usually found in case of bleeding into the CSF. |
| cerebral aqueduct of Sylvius. The CSF then | | | | The cerebro-spinal fluid can be obtained by lumbar |
| passes from the fourth ventricle into the | | | | puncture. If it is not possible to do a lumbar |
| subarachnoid spce vial foramen of Luschka, which | | | | puncture due to local sepsis or due to a failure |
| are two laterally placed foramen. There is yet | | | | because of technical difficulties, a cisternal |
| another route called as foramen of Magendie at | | | | puncture can be done to obtain CSF. |
| the roof of the fourth ventricle. It is absorbed by | | | | This is all about normal features of the CSF. Will |
| the arachnoid villi of the dural sinuses. Everyday | | | | discuss about the common abnormalities found in |
| almost half a liter of CSF is produced by the | | | | the CSF examination in another article. |
| body, but at a time almost 140 ml of CSF is | | | | |