Lumbar puncture

Referenced definition

“Needle puncture of the lumbar subarachnoid space, usually performed in the spaces between the spines of the third and fourth or fourth and fifth lumbar vertebrae, in order to obtain samples of cerebrospinal fluid for analysis or in order to inject material for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.”

Source: Termium Plus. Lumbar puncture. [Internet]. Aug 2005 [cited on Sept 7, 2022]. 

Context

“Before your lumbar puncture (spinal tap), your health care provider takes your medical history, does a physical exam, and orders blood tests to check for bleeding or clotting disorders.”

Source: Mayo Clinic. Lumbar puncture (spinal tap). [Internet]. [cited on Sept 7, 2022]. 

Note

• After a lumbar puncture, the cerebrospinal fluid samples are analyzed in a laboratory. Indeed, it can be helpful in the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, as it can reveal the amount of Amyloid-beta and Tau proteins in the cerebrospinal fluid.