Cerebral Spinal Fluid - Anatomy & Physiology

Cerebrospinal Fluid Function

Canine dilated lateral ventricles. RVC, 2008

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) helps cushion the central nervous system (CNS) and acts as a chemical buffer providing immunological protection and a transport system for waste products and nutrients.

• CSF is the fluid surrounding the brain as well as the central canal of the spinal cord.
• CSF is a clear fluid produced by the choroid plexus. It consists of epithilium associated with the underlying pia mater and produces CSF from blood plasma.
• Choroid plexuses are found in each lateral ventricle and a pair are found in the third and fourth ventricle
• It circulates from the choroid plexus through the interventricular foramina into the 3rd ventricle, and then through the cerebral aqueduct (aqueduct of Sylvius) into the 4th ventricle before flowing through the cerebromedullary cistern down the spinal cord and over the cerebral hemispheres.
• Most CSF escapes from the ventricular system at the hindbrain foramen of Luschka.
• It then flows down the length of the spinal cord in the subarachnoid space.
• Large amounts are drained into the blood through arachnoid granulations in the superior sagittal sinus.

See immunology.