CSF, Meninges & Ventricular System Flashcards
(13 cards)
What are the three layers of the meninges and their functions?
Dura mater (mechanical protection), arachnoid mater (CSF circulation), pia mater (supplies nutrients and oxygen to the neural tissue via capillaries)
Where is CSF produced and what is its function?
Produced by the choroid plexus in ventricles; cushions brain, removes waste, maintains pressure
Name the ventricles of the brain and the flow of CSF.
Lateral ventricles → third ventricle → cerebral aqueduct → fourth ventricle → subarachnoid space
What is hydrocephalus and how does it occur?
Abnormal accumulation of CSF due to impaired flow, absorption or production, increasing intracranial pressure
What symptoms might hydrocephalus cause and why?
Gait disturbance, memory issues, incontinence; due to pressure on brain structures (e.g. frontal lobes, periventricular pathways)
Which meningeal layer contains CSF?
The subarachnoid space, between the arachnoid and pia mater.
How does CSF get absorbed into the venous system?
Through arachnoid granulations (clusters of subarachnoid villi) into the superior sagittal sinus , then into the venous bloodstream
What is the role of the choroid plexus?
To produce cerebrospinal fluid.
What happens if CSF absorption is blocked?
Hydrocephalus may occur due to fluid buildup.
What does a VP shunt do?
It diverts excess CSF from the brain to the abdominal cavity.
What is a lumbar puncture and its purpose?
A needle procedure to collect CSF for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.
What symptoms suggest raised intracranial pressure?
Headache, vomiting, papilledema (swelling of optic disc), and altered consciousness.
What is the function of the ventricles?
To produce and circulate cerebrospinal fluid.
