Cerebrospinal fluid is the fluid found in and around the central
nervous system (CNS) organs, the brain and spinal cord. It protects
the brain and spinal cord by acting like a liquid cushion. The
fluid allows the organs to be buoyant protecting them from blows or
other trauma. Inside the skull the cerebrospinal fluid is contained
by the dura which covers the brain. Any trauma or tear in the dura
can allow the fluid to leak out creating an emergency situation.
Review Date: 09/26/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of
General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington
School of Medicine; and Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant
Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of
Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David
Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
