Chapter 13 Cerebrospinal Fluid Flashcards
Clear, colorless liquid formed in the 4 ventricles of the brain by secretion from the choroid plexus and a smaller contribution from the ependymal cells that line the brain and spinal cord
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
What does CSF do
- Supplies nutments to nervous tissue
- removes metabolic waste
- Produces a mechanical barrier to protect and cushion the brain and spinal cord
Central nervous system consists of
Brain and spinal cord
What 3 membranes line the central nervous system and what layer are they?
- Dura mater (outer layer)
- Arachnoid mater (middle layer)
- Pia mater (inner layer)
CSF flows between which layers
Arachnoid mater and pia mater
How is CSF produced?
By choroid plexus cells and ependymal lining cells (blood-brain barrier)
Where does CSF circulate
Through the ventricular system: cerebrum, brain stem, completely covers surface of brain and spinal cord
Name the 6 structures
From superior to inferior: Skull Dura mater Subdural space Arachnoid Subarachnoid space Pia mater
Total volume of CSF in adults and neonates
Adults: 85-150ml
Neonates: 10-60ml
Pathologic alterations of CSF are caused in
Infections (meningitis), cerebral hemorrhage, tumors, leukemia, syphilis, demyelinating diseases (multiple sclerosis), and other blood-brain barrier conditions
Blockage of drainage of CSF can be caused by
Tumor, inflammation, developmental malformation, meningitis, hemorrhage or injury
Continued production of CSF causing an increase in pressure
Hydrocephalus
How many tubes are used for collection of CSF and where are they sent?
3 tubes (additional sometimes submitted):
- tube 1 for chemistry and immunology (can be frozen)
- tube 2 for microbiology (keep at room temp)
- tube 3 for hematology and cytology (can be refrigerated)
If there is only a small volume of CSF what testing is priority?
Micro and cellular
What do you do if you receive a sample that is not labeled
Run the test and then contact nurse. Sample can go bad and diagnosis could be contagious
If blood distribution in CSF sample is even
Hemorrhage
If blood in CSF sample is uneven
Traumatic tap
Cause, and significance if sample is crystal clear
Cause: normal
Significance: normal
Cause, and significance if sample is hazy, turbid, cloudy, milky, viscous
Cause: WBCs, Microorganisms, protein
Significance: meningitis, brain-blood barrier disorders, IgG production within CNS, mucin adenocarcinomas
Cause, and significance of bloody sample
Cause: RBCs
Significance: hemorrhage, traumatic tap
Cause, and significance of xanthochromic sample
Cause: hemoglobin, bilirubin, carotene, melanin
Significance: Old hemorrhage, RBC degradation, bilirubin
Cause, and significance of clotted sample
Cause: protein, fibrinogen
Significance: brain-blood barrier disorders, traumatic tap
Cause, and significance of pellicle sample
Cause: protein, clotting factors
Significance: tubercular meningitis
Normal amount of WBCs and RBCs
WBC: 0-5 per microliter (specifically lymphocytes and monocytes)
RBC: not present
Cell counts are performed with
Hemacytometer
Normal ratio of lymphocytes to monocytes in adults and children
Adults: 70:30
Children: 30:70
Increased amount of normal cells
Pleocytosis
Pleocytosis of normal cells is valuable in determining the cause of what
Meningitis
Increased amounts of neutrophils =
Bacterial
Increased amount of lymphocytes =
Viral, tubercular, fungal, parasitic, syphilis
Major clinical significance if reactive lymphocytes are found
Viral, tubercular, and fungal meningitis
Multiple sclerosis
Major clinical significance in neutrophils with granules less prominent than blood are found
Bacterial meningitis
Major clinical significance if neutrophils with lens that disintegrate rapidly are found
Early cases of viral, tubercular, and fungal meningitis
Cerebral hemorrhage
Major clinical significance if monocytes by themselves are found
Viral, tubercular, and fungal meningitis
Multiple sclerosis
Clinical significance if macrophages that may contain phagocytized RBCs appearing as empty vacuoles or ghost cells, hemosiderin granules, and hematoidin crystals are found
RBCs in spinal fluid from hemorrhage
Contrast media
Clinical significance if lymphoblasts, myeloblasts, or monoblasts are found
Acute leukemia
Clinical significance if lymphoma cells with cleft nuclei are found
Disseminated lymphomas
Clinical significance if traditional or classic plasma cells are found
Multiple sclerosis