Anatomy And Physiology Of Cerebrospinal Fluid Dynamics

Abstract As a fluidic medium in direct contact with the central nervous system (CNS), cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) plays an important role in biomechanical support and physiological function of the brain and the spinal cord. Although the mechanisms driving pulsatile CSF flow are still not fully understood, novel imaging techniques have illuminated the normative range of this flow as well as its variations in the presence of neural disorders. The significance of CSF dynamics in normal and neuropathological conditions has been investigated in multiple in vivo and numerical studies. CSF also provides an alternative route for the delivery of therapeutic agents to the CNS. Intrathecal drug delivery techniques facilitate transport of large biomolecules to the CNS by bypassing the blood–brain barrier. Future studies on CSF can shed more light on its importance in the assessment and treatment of neurological conditions.