the csf is found in the central canal of the spinal cord.
the csf is found in the central canal of the spinal cord.
where is the csf found in the spinal cord?
the central canal
there is about 125–150 ml of csf at any one time. this csf circulates within the ventricular system of the brain. the ventricles are a series of cavities filled with csf. the majority of csf is produced from within the two lateral ventricles. from here, csf passes through the interventricular foramina to the third ventricle, then the cerebral aqueduct to the fourth ventricle. from the fourth ventricle, the fluid passes into the subarachnoid space through four openings the central canal of the spinal cord, the median aperture, and the two lateral apertures. csf is present within the subarachnoid space, which covers the brain, spinal cord, and stretches below the end of the spinal cord to the sacrum. there is a connection from the subarachnoid space to the bony labyrinth of the inner ear making the cerebrospinal fluid continuous with the perilymph in 93% of people.
cerebrospinal fluid
in tethered spinal cord cases spina bifida can be accompanied by tethering of the spinal cord but in rare cases with spina bifida occulta. tethering of the spinal cord tends to occur in the cases of spina bifida with mylomeningocele. in a normal person the spine grows faster than the spinal cord during development which causes the end of the spinal cord to appear to rise relative to the bony spine next to it. by the time of birth the spinal cord is located between l1 and l2. in a baby with spina bifida the spinal cord is still attached to the skin around it preventing it from rising properly. this occurs because the spinal cord in a child with spina bifida is low lying and tethered at the bottom. at the time of birth the mylomeningocele is separated from the skin but the spinal cord is still stuck in the same place. as the child begins to grow the spinal cord remains in the same place becoming stretched out causing the tight cord and the tethering at the end. with this type of tethering there is an interference with the blood supply to the nerves and body which can then cause the deterioration of the body causing orthopedic, neurological, and urological problems. with milder forms of spina bifida such as occulta, may be related to the degree of strain on the cord which can become worse with physical activity, injury, pregnancy, bone spurs, or spinal stenosis. the tethered cord in this case might not be diagnosed until adulthood when it worsens and can still cause neurological, orthopedic, and urological dysfunctions.
tethered spinal cord syndrome