Which fluid is obtained by lumbar puncture?

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Multiple Choice

Which fluid is obtained by lumbar puncture?

Lumbar puncture is used to sample cerebrospinal fluid. This fluid surrounds the brain and spinal cord and sits in the subarachnoid space, which clinicians can access safely in the lower back (below the end of the spinal cord, typically around L1–L2, accessed at L3–L4 or L4–L5). That’s why the fluid obtained is cerebrospinal fluid. The other fluids come from different body areas—peritoneal fluid from the abdominal cavity, pleural fluid from the space around the lungs, and synovial fluid from joints—so they’re not drawn through a lumbar puncture.

Lumbar puncture is used to sample cerebrospinal fluid. This fluid surrounds the brain and spinal cord and sits in the subarachnoid space, which clinicians can access safely in the lower back (below the end of the spinal cord, typically around L1–L2, accessed at L3–L4 or L4–L5). That’s why the fluid obtained is cerebrospinal fluid. The other fluids come from different body areas—peritoneal fluid from the abdominal cavity, pleural fluid from the space around the lungs, and synovial fluid from joints—so they’re not drawn through a lumbar puncture.

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