RT Book, Section
A1 Waxman, Stephen G.
SR Print(0)
ID 1137639015
T1 Cerebrospinal Fluid Examination
T2 Clinical Neuroanatomy, 28e
YR 2017
FD 2017
PB McGraw-Hill Education
PP New York, NY
SN 9780071847704
LK accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1137639015
RD 2024/04/19
AB Analysis  of  the  cerebrospinal  fluid  (CSF)  can  provide  useful  diagnostic  information.  As  noted  in  Chapter  6,  CSF  is  usually  obtained  from  the  lumbar  subarachnoid  space  via  a  spinal  tap,  also  called  a  lumbar  puncture.  Usually,  this  is  carried  out  at  the  L3–4  or  L4–5  interspace,  with  the  patient  in  the  lateral  decubitus  position.  In  some  cases,  it  is  easier  to  perform  lumbar  puncture  with  the  patient  in  a  sitting  position.  Because  the  spinal  cord  in  adults  ends  at  the  L1–2  level,  lumbar  puncture  can  be  performed  below  that  level  (and  above  the  sacrum)  without  injuring  the  cord.