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February 6, 2012
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Spinal Tap

Medical Author:
Scott D Fell, DO, FAAEM
Coauthor:
Christina L Kukula, DO
Medical Editor:
Scott H Plantz, MD, FAAEM
Medical Editor:
Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD
Medical Editor:
Thomas Rebbecchi, MD, FAAEM

Spinal Tap Introduction

  • A spinal tap is a procedure performed when a doctor needs to look at the cerebrospinal fluid (also known as spinal fluid). Spinal tap is also referred to as a lumbar puncture, or LP.)

  • Some of the reasons your doctor may want to do a spinal tap include the following:


  • Cerebrospinal fluid is a liquid that bathes the brain and spinal cord. An adult has about 140 mL (just under 5 oz) of spinal fluid. Typically, an adult makes 30-100 mL of spinal fluid daily.

  • A spinal tap can be performed in any person and at any age from newborn to age 100 years and older.

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Spinal Tap - Causes

The eMedicineHealth physician editors ask:

What was the cause of you needing a spinal tap?

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Spinal Tap

Mad Cow Disease and Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease »

Mad Cow Disease Overview

“Mad cow” is an infectious disease in the brain of cattle. Humans who become infected, usually by eating tissue from diseased cattle, will die of a similar brain disease that may develop over many years.

Abnormal proteins called prions (PRE-ons) are found in brain tissue of diseased cattle. Prions eat away at the brain and create tiny spongelike holes in parts of the brain. These so-called spongy holes cause slow deterioration within the cattle brain, and eventually symptoms affecting the whole body. Death follows. The scientific name for mad cow disease in cattle is called bovine spongiform encephalopathy (meaning sick brain) or BSE, meaning a sickness of the cow’s brain; when damaged brain tissue is viewed on a laboratory slide, it has a spongy appearance.

If humans eat diseased tissue from cattle, they may develop the human form of mad cow disease known as variant Creutzfeld...

Read the Mad Cow Disease and Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease article »


Read What Your Physician is Reading on Medscape

Lumbar Puncture (CSF Examination) »

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was first examined in the 19th century using primitive techniques (eg, sharpened bird quills).

Read More on Medscape Reference »

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