Cerebrospinal Fluid Flashcards
what produces cerebrospinal fluid?
choroid plexus
ependymal surfaces of ventricles
pia-glial membrane of brain surface
blood vessels of subarachnoid space and pia mater
what is healthy cerebrospinal fluid like?
clear, watery, non-clotting
when is cerebrospinal fluid collection contraindicated?
if CNS signs are associated with known trauma or intoxication
if anesthesia is contraindicated
conditions with increased intracranial pressure
what can be added to cerebrospinal fluid to preserve it?
serum
hetastarch
ethanol
what does healthy CSF look like?
colorless and clear
what can decrease the level of blood contamination?
collection of several sequential samples
what does true intracavity hemorrhage result in?
xanthochromia
which hemoglobin breakdown products make CSF look yellow (xanthochromia)?
bilirubin
hematoidin
what can you see in cytologic evaluation of CSF that would indicate true hemorrhage?
macrophages show erythrophagia
hemoglobin breakdown products: hemosiderin, hematoidin crystals
what is normal cellularity of cerebrospinal fluid?
=<5-8 cells/microliter
which small mononuclear cells are in healthy CSF?
lymphocytes
which large mononuclear cells are in healthy CSF?
macrophages
surface lining cells
what can lead to hemorrhage in the CSF?
trauma
vasculitis
severe inflammation
disc extrusion
neoplasia
what can increased CSF microprotein be due to?
hemorrhage
alterations in blood-brain barrier
localized production of immunoglobulins
what is neutrophilic pleocytosis?
moderate to marked pleocytosis characterized by predominancee of neutrophils (>70%)
