What is CSF obstruction?
Non-communication (Obstructive) Hydrocephalus: It occurs when the flow of CSF is blocked along one of more of the passages connecting the ventricles, causing enlargement of the pathways upstream of the block and leading to an increase in pressure within the skull.
What happens when CSF flow is disrupted?
A significant disruption to the normal CSF circulation can be life threatening, leading to increased intracranial pressure (ICP), and is implicated in hydrocephalus, idiopathic intracranial hypertension, brain trauma, brain tumours and stroke.
What is the flow of cerebrospinal fluid?
Normal route of CSF from production to clearance is the following: From the choroid plexus, the CSF flows to the lateral ventricle, then to the interventricular foramen of Monro, the third ventricle, the cerebral aqueduct of Sylvius, the fourth ventricle, the two lateral foramina of Luschka and one medial foramen of …
What causes an obstruction in the normal flow of cerebrospinal fluid?
Abnormal development of the central nervous system that can obstruct the flow of cerebrospinal fluid. Bleeding within the ventricles, a possible complication of premature birth. Infection in the uterus — such as rubella or syphilis — during pregnancy, which can cause inflammation in fetal brain tissues.
What happens when the brain ventricular system is obstructed?
Hence, if there is blockage along the drainage pathway or if the fluid cannot be absorbed back into the blood, then the fluid is backed-up into the ventricles, causing enlargement – a.k.a. Hydrocephalus.
Why is CSF flow important?
The ventricles are connected by narrow passageways. Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) flows through the four ventricles and then flows between the meninges in an area called the subarachnoid space. CSF cushions the brain and spinal cord against forceful blows, distributes important substances, and carries away waste products.
How is cerebrospinal fluid drained?
CSF gets drained into the superior sagittal venous sinus through the arachnoid villi, small protrusions of arachnoid matter into the venous sinus. Physiologically, the pressure of CSF within the subarachnoid space is greater than that within the venous sinus. Hence, the CSF will drain into the venous sinuses.
What causes hydrocephalus in pregnancy?
There is no one specific cause of congenital hydrocephalus. However, it may be linked to a genetic defect, or be the result of another disorder such as spina bifida or encephalocele (sac-like protrusions of the brain).
Where does the cerebrospinal fluid circulate?
Cerebrospinal fluid circulates through a system of cavities found within the brain and spinal cord; ventricles, subarachnoid space of the brain and spinal cord and the central canal of the spinal cord.
Why is CSF important in diagnosis?
CSF analysis can detect immune response disorders. The immune system can cause damage to the CNS through inflammation, destruction of the myelin sheath around the nerves, and antibody production. Common diseases of this type include: Guillain-Barré syndrome.
How does cerebrospinal fluid flow through the brain?
Cerebrospinal Fluid Circulation The CSF flows from the lateral to the third ventricle via the cerebral aqueduct and the fourth ventricle to subarachnoid space in cisterna magna and subarachnoid spaces. The flow of CSF across the ventricles is pulsatile, unidirectional, and is caused by the transmission of the arterial pulsations.
What happens if you have too much cerebrospinal fluid?
But the pressure of too much cerebrospinal fluid associated with hydrocephalus can damage brain tissues and cause a range of impairments in brain function. Hydrocephalus can happen at any age, but it occurs more frequently among infants and adults 60 and over.
What causes excess cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles?
Excess cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles occurs for one of the following reasons: 1 Obstruction. The most common problem is a partial obstruction of the normal flow… 2 Poor absorption. Less common is a problem with the mechanisms that enable… 3 Overproduction. Rarely, cerebrospinal fluid is created more quickly than it can be absorbed.
What is cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)?
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is an ultrafiltrate of plasma contained within the ventricles of the brain and the subarachnoid spaces of the cranium and spine. It performs vital functions, including providing nourishment, waste removal, and protection to the brain. [2]
