Editing Cerebrospinal fluid (section)

{{short description|Clear, colorless bodily fluid found in the brain and spinal cord}}
{{good article}}
{{Anatomy-terms}}{{Infobox anatomy
| Name = Cerebrospinal fluid
| Image = 1317 CFS Circulation.jpg
| Caption = The cerebrospinal fluid circulates in the [[subarachnoid space]] around the [[brain]] and [[spinal cord]], and in the [[ventricular system|ventricles]] of the brain.
| Image2 = Blausen 0216 CerebrospinalSystem.png 
| Caption2 = Image showing the location of CSF highlighting the brain's [[ventricular system]]
| acronym = CSF
|Latin = liquor cerebrospinalis
}}

'''Cerebrospinal fluid''' ('''CSF''') is a clear, colorless [[Extracellular fluid#Transcellular fluid|transcellular body fluid]] found within the [[meninges|meningeal tissue]] that surrounds the [[vertebrate]] [[brain]] and [[spinal cord]], and in the [[ventricular system|ventricles]] of the brain.

CSF is mostly produced by specialized [[Ependyma|ependymal cells]] in the [[choroid plexus]]es of the ventricles of the brain, and absorbed in the [[arachnoid granulation]]s. It is also produced by ependymal cells in the lining of the ventricles. In humans, there is about 125&nbsp;mL of CSF at any one time, and about 500&nbsp;mL is generated every day. CSF acts as a shock absorber, cushion or buffer, providing basic mechanical and [[immune system|immunological protection]] to the brain inside the [[Human skull|skull]]. CSF also serves a vital function in the [[cerebral autoregulation]] of [[cerebral blood flow]].

CSF occupies the [[subarachnoid space]] (between the [[arachnoid mater]] and the [[pia mater]]) and the [[ventricular system]] around and inside the brain and spinal cord. It fills the [[ventricular system|ventricles]] of the brain, [[subarachnoid cisterns|cisterns]], and [[Sulcus (neuroanatomy)|sulci]], as well as the [[central canal]] of the spinal cord. There is also a connection from the subarachnoid space to the [[bony labyrinth]] of the [[inner ear]] via the [[perilymphatic duct]] where the [[perilymph]] is continuous with the cerebrospinal fluid. The ependymal cells of the choroid plexus have multiple [[Cilium#Motile cilia|motile cilia]] on their apical surfaces that beat to move the CSF through the ventricles.

A sample of CSF can be taken from around the spinal cord via [[lumbar puncture]]. This can be used to test the [[intracranial pressure]], as well as indicate diseases including [[encephalitis|infections of the brain]] or the surrounding [[meningitis|meninges]].

Although noted by [[Hippocrates]], it was forgotten for centuries, though later was described in the 18th century by [[Emanuel Swedenborg]].<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://nah.sen.es/vmfiles/abstract/NAHV5N32017105_113EN.pdf |title=The history of cerebrospinal fluid: from Classical Antiquity to the late modern period |author=M. A. Tola Arribas |journal=Neurosciences and History |year=2017 |volume=5 |issue=3 |pages=105-113 |accessdate=2025-03-15}}</ref> In 1914, [[Harvey Cushing]] demonstrated that CSF is secreted by the choroid plexus.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.americanscientist.org/article/the-early-years-of-brain-imaging |title=The Early Years of Brain Imaging |author=David Warmflash |website=[[American Scientist]] |accessdate=2025-03-15}}</ref>