Physiology of Cerebrospinal Fluid

CSF

Liquor cerebrospinalis, a clear bodily fluid that occupies the subarachnoid space and the ventricular system around and inside the brain and spinal cord.

Volume: 130-150mL

Total in Ventricles- 15-40mL Subarachnoid space-100mL

Spinal part-75mL Cranial part-25mL

Rate of Production: 550mL/day Turn over: 3.7 times/day Brain-composed of 80% fluid,mostly by CSF.

Formation of CSF

Formed by epithelial cells of the choroid plexus of the lateral 3rd and 4th ventricles (50-70%) Remainder formed around blood vessels and along ventricular walls

1) Plasma passively filtered across the choroidal capillary endothelium driven by hyrdostatic pressure. 2) Na+ pumped into cell exchanged with H+ 3) Carbonic Anhydrase catalyses formation of HCO3- in cell 4) Apical Na/K ATPase & Na/2Cl/K co transporter pump Na out into CSF/Ventricle. 5) Aquaporins provide for H20 movement to balance osmotic gradients.

Lateral ventricles

1
Foramen of Monro

3rd Ventricle

Aqueduct of Sylvius

4 3 5 6

4th Ventricle
Foramina of Magendie

Foramina of Luschka
Subarachnoid spacebrain and spinal cord

CSF Absorption

Mainly through the arachnoid villi in parasagittal venous sinuses and epidural veins of vertebral column. Some through the cribiform plate of the ethmoid bone. Function as one-way valves because the hydrostatic pressure of the CSF usually exceeds venous pressure.

Functions of CSF
1.

Buoyancy Brain weighs -1400 g in air. Weight suspended in CSF-50g. Allows the brain to maintain its density without being impaired by its own weight, which would cut off blood supply and kill neurons in the lower sections without CSF Protection CSF protects the brain tissue from injury when jolted or hit. Nutrition for neurons and glia Waste removal -functions like lymphatic system

2.

3.

4.

5. Homeostasis of the ionic composition of the local microenvironment of the cells of the nervous system. 6. Transport system -for releasing factors, hormones, neurotransmitters, metabolites 7. H+ and CO2 concentrations in the CSF (pH) may affect both pulmonary ventilation and cerebral blood flow. 8. Diagnostic information about the normal and pathological states of the nervous system.

CSF formation and absorption at various pressures

Concentration of various substances in CSF and plasma

Substance CSF Plasma Ratio

Na+
K+ Mg2+ Ca2+ ClHco3pH Osmolality Protein Glucose Urea Creatinine Uric Acid Cholesterol

147
2.9 2.2 2.3 113 25.1 7.33 289 20 64 12 1.5 1.5 0.2

150
4.6 1.6 4.7 99.0 24.8 7.44 289 6000 100 15 1.2 5.0 175

0.98
0.62 1.39 0.49 1.14 1.01 1 0.003 0.64 18 1.25 0.3 0.001

[CSF] = [Blood] [CSF] < [Blood] [CSF] > [Blood] Na+ K+ Mg2+ ClCa2+ Creatinine HCO3Glucose Osmolarity Amino Acids pH Cholesterol Protein

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