cerebrospinal fluid

noun

: a colorless liquid that is comparable to serum, is secreted from the blood into the lateral ventricles of the brain, and serves chiefly to maintain uniform pressure within the brain and spinal cord

Examples of cerebrospinal fluid in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For him, the worst parts of his treatment from 2022 to 2023 were the monthly visits for a lumbar puncture, when the medical team would insert a needle into his back to collect cerebrospinal fluid and administer a chemotherapy treatment directly into his spine. —Amy Bizzarri, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2025

Researchers discovered that this waste-clearance system works primarily during sleep, with brain cells creating pathways for cerebrospinal fluid to flow through and clear out toxins that accumulate during wakefulness. —Drew Ramsey, Contributor, CNBC, 25 Mar. 2025

The diagnosis was confirmed with a genetic test for the parasite's DNA in the patient's cerebrospinal fluid (nucleic acid amplification testing). —Ars Technica, 13 Feb. 2025

Blackburn, who suffered a season-ending cerebrospinal fluid leak last year, has allowed three runs over 2.1 innings this spring. —Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 4 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1828, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cerebrospinal fluid

• druid

Kids Definition

cerebrospinal fluid

noun

ce·​re·​bro·​spi·​nal fluid

sə-ˌrē-brō-ˌspīn-ᵊl-

: a colorless fluid that occupies the cavities of the brain and spinal cord and the space between these and the membranes surrounding them

Medical Definition

cerebrospinal fluid

noun

: a liquid that is comparable to serum but contains less dissolved material, that is secreted from the blood into the lateral ventricles of the brain by the choroid plexus, circulates through the ventricles to the spaces between the meninges about the brain and spinal cord, and is resorbed into the blood through the subarachnoid sinuses, and that serves chiefly to maintain uniform pressure within the brain and spinal cord

called also spinal fluid

compare lymph