Cerebrospinal fluid
Domain : Diagnosis
Category : My daily life
Simplified definition
A fluid that covers the brain and the spinal cord and protects them from shocks. The brain floats in this fluid, which makes it less heavy.
Source: Houria Aiouaz, for Alzheimer Foundation
Referenced definition
“A fluid largely secreted by the choroid plexuses of the ventricles of the brain, filling the ventricles and the subarachnoid cavities of the brain and spinal cord.”
Source: Termium Plus. Cerebrospinal fluid. [Internet]. Feb 2015 [cited on Sept 7, 2022].
Context
“Sometimes, healthcare providers order cerebrospinal fluid tests to evaluate autoimmune conditions and neurodegenerative diseases, if warranted.”
Source: Cleveland Clinic. Dementia. [Internet]. [cited on Sept 7, 2022].
Note
- The cerebrospinal fluid cleans the brain, so its composition indicates if the brain is healthy or affected by a disease. For instance, Amyloid-beta protein is normally released into the CSF.