CEREBROSPINAL FLUID Flashcards
What are the main functions of CSF?
- provides nutrients to nervous tissue
- removes metabolic wastes
- produces mechanical barrier to cushion the brain and spinal cord against trauma
This lines the brain and the spinal cord
Meninges
Three layers of the meninges
Dura mater
Arachnoid
Pia mater
This outermost layer of the meninges lines the skull and vertebral canal
Dura mater
Pertained to as the “hard mother”
Dura mater
This meningeal layer is a filamentous (spider-like) inner membrane.
Arachnoid
The innermost layer of the meninges lines the surfaces of the brain and spinal cord
Pia mater
This is where CSF is produced
Choroid plexuses of the two lumbar ventricles and the third and fourth ventricles
Which layer of the meninges is referred to as the “gentle mother”
Pia mater
In adults, approximately how many mL of CSF is produced every hour?
20 mL
This is a space located between the arachnoid and pia mater where the CSF flows through
Subarachnoid space
Normal volume of CSF in adults (range)
90-150 mL
Normal volume of CSF in neonates (range)
10-60 mL
How is the CSF volume maintained?
The circulating fluid is reabsorbed back into the blood capillaries in the arachnoid granulations/villae at a rate equal to its production.
The cells of the arachnoid granulations act as (one-way/two-way) valves that respond to pressure within the central nervous system (CNS) and prevent reflux of the fluid
One-way
TRUE or FALSE:
The chemical composition of the CSF does not resemble an ultrafiltrate of plasma.
TRUE
The choroid plexuses are capillary networks that form the CSF from plasma by mechanisms of ________ under hydrostatic pressure and active transport secretion.
Selective filtration
These are cells that line the capillary walls throughout the body.
Endothelial cells
NOTE:
Endothelial cells in the capillary walls are loosely connected to allow passage of soluble nutrients and wastes between the plasma and the tissues.
The tight-fitting structure of endothelial cells in the choroid plexuses is called:
Blood-brain barrier (BBB)
TRUE or FALSE:
Diseases such as meningitis and multiple sclerosis disrupt BBB
TRUE
Note:
This allows leukocytes, proteins, and additional chemicals to enter CSF
This is the procedure done to collect CSF
Lumbar puncture
Where is lumbar puncture done?
Between the third, fourth, or fifth lumbar vertebra
TRUE or FALSE:
Lumbar puncture is considered a complicated procedure.
FALSE
NOTE:
* Lumbar puncture is not complicated but may require certain precautions.
- It requires measurement of intracranial pressure and technique to prevent infection or neural tissue damage
How many tubes are required for CSF collection?
Three (3)
In CSF collection, Tube 1 is for:
Chemical and serologic tests
NOTE:
These tests are least affected by blood or bacteria introduced as a result of the tap procedure.
In CSF collection, Tube 2 is for:
Microbiology
In CSF collection, Tube 3 is for:
Cell count
NOTE:
Tube 3 is the least likely to contain cells introduced by the spinal tap procedure.
In CSF collection, a fourth tube may be filled. This will be for what test/s?
- Microbiology (to better exclude skin contamination)
- Additional serologic tests
TRUE or FALSE:
Excess CSF fluid drawn may be discarded.
FALSE
NOTE:
Excess fluid should not be discarded and should be frozen until there is no further use for it.
Supernatant fluid left over after each section has performed its tests may be used for?
Additional chemical or serologic tests
At what temperature must excess CSF fluid be stored?
A. Room temp
B. Refrigerated
C. Frozen
C. Frozen
TRUE or FALSE:
CSF testing is ideally performed on a STAT basis.
TRUE
Storage condition of hematology tubes?
Refrigerated
Storage condition of microbiology tubes?
Room temperature
Storage condition of chemistry and serology tubes?
Frozen
If only one tube can be filled with CSF, what test must go first?
Microbiology
What tubes can be used to perform cell counts to check for cellular contamination by puncture?
Tubes 1 & 4
Appearance of normal CSF
Crystal-clear
CSF appearance that may be a result of an increased protein or lipid concentration, but may also be indicative of infection
Cloudy/Turbid/Milky
NOTE:
The cloudiness is mainly caused by the presence of WBCs
Term used when CSF supernatant is pink, orange, or yellow.
Xanthochromia
Most common cause of xanthochromia
Presence of RBC degradation products
CSF color that would indicate that there is a very slight amount of oxyhemoglobin
Pink
CSF color that would indicate heavy hemolysis
Orange
CSF color that would indicate conversion of oxyhemoglobin to unconjugated bilirubin
Yellow
Other causes of xanthochromia aside from presence of RBC degradation products:
- Elevated serum bilirubin
- Presence of pigment carotene
- Markedly increased protein concentrations
- Melanoma pigment
TRUE or FALSE:
Xanthochromia that is caused by bilirubin due to immature liver function is also commonly seen in infants, particularly premature infants.
TRUE
Oily appearance of CSF may be caused by:
Radiographic contrast media
Causes of grossly bloody CSF
- Intracranial hemorrhage
- Puncture of a blood vessel during spinal tap procedure
Visual examinations of CSF that would determine whether the blood is the result of hemorrhage or a traumatic tap
- Uneven blood distribution
- Clot formation
- Xanthochromic supernatant
Blood from a cerebral hemorrhage will be (evenly/unevenly) distributed throughout the three CSF specimen tubes.
Evenly
NOTE:
Traumatic tap will leave the heaviest concentration of blood in tube 1, and gradually diminishing amounts in tubes 2 and 3.
TRUE or FALSE:
Fluid collected from a traumatic tap may form clots owing to the introduction of plasma fibrinogen into the specimen.
TRUE
NOTE:
Bloody CSF caused by intracranial hemorrhage does not contain enough fibrinogen to clot.
Diseases that damage the BBB also cause clot formation but do not usually produce a bloody fluid.
A classic web-like pellicles is associated with what disease?
Tubercular meningitis
NOTE:
Pellicles can be seen after overnight refrigeration of the fluid
RBCs must usually remain in the CSF for approximately ____ hours before noticeable hemolysis begins.
2 hours
NOTE:
A xanthochromic supernatant would be the result of blood that has been present longer than that introduced by the traumatic tap.
A recent hemorrhage would produce what appearance of CSF supernatant
Clear
How to examine a bloody fluid for the presence of xanthochromia?
Fluid is centrifuged in a microhematocrit tube and the supernatant is examined against a white background
Additional tests used to differentiate bloody CSF due to intracranial hemorrhage from bloody CSF due to traumatic tap
Microscopic Examination
* presence of ingested RBCs (erythrophagocytosis) or hemosiderin granules = intracranial hemorrhage
D-dimer Test
* detection of fibrin degradation product D-dimer by latex agglutination immunoassay indicates fibrin formation at a hemorrhage site
Type of cell count routinely performed on CSF specimens
Leukocyte (WBC) count
In CSF analysis, cell count must be performed immediately. WBCs (particularly granulocytes) and RBCs begin to lyse within ______, and leukocytes disintegrate after ____ hours.
1 hour; 2 hours
What percentage of leukocytes in the CSF begin to disintegrate after 2 hours?
40%
TRUE or FALSE:
Specimens that cannot be analyzed immediately should be frozen.
FALSE
NOTE:
Only refrigerated
Normal WBC count in normal adult CSF
0-5 WBCs/uL
TRUE or FALSE:
The number of leukocytes present in children is higher as compared to that of adults
TRUE
NOTE:
30 mononuclear cells/uL is still considered normal in newborns
TRUE or FALSE:
Specimens that contain up to 200 WBCs or 400 RBCs/uL may still appear clear
TRUE
NOTE:
This is why microscopic examination of specimens is necessary
This is routinely used in performing CSF cell counts
Improved Neubauer Counting Chamber
This tool has not been used in performing CSF cell counts due to high background counts and poor reproducibility of low counts.
Electronic cell counters
TRUE or FALSE:
The standard Neubauer calculation formula used for blood cell counts is also applied to CSF cell counts to determine the number of cells per microliter.
TRUE
CSF Cell Count Formula
(# of cells counted x dilution) / (# of cells counted x volume of 1 square) = cells/uL
TRUE or FALSE:
The CSF cell count formula may be used for both diluted and undiluted specimens
TRUE
NOTE:
The formula also offers flexibility in the number and size of the squares counted.
TRUE or FALSE:
Clear specimens may be counted undiluted, provided no overlapping of cells is seen during the microscopic examination.
TRUE
This is used to dilute total cell counts
Normal saline
NOTE:
After the addition of normal saline, the sample is mixed by inversion, and loaded into the hemocytometer with a Pasteur pipette.
What parts of the hemocytometer are cells counted for CSF analysis?
4 corner squares and center square on both sides of the hemocytometer
TRUE or FALSE:
Lysis of RBCs must be obtained before performing the WBC count on either diluted or undiluted specimens.
TRUE