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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The agency harshly criticized his analyses of samples of blood and cerebrospinal fluid for a clinical trial of Cassava’s drug, which some scientists say calls into question its claimed efficacy. Bycharles Piller, science.org, 28 June 2024 This led them to the opening—the end of the trigeminal nerve that was in open contact with the cerebrospinal fluid. Matthew Ponsford, WIRED, 19 Sep. 2024 Numbness or Weakness Anywhere in the Body Numbness or weakness anywhere in the body can be a sign of metastatic breast cancer, seen when cancer spreads into the spinal cord or into the cerebrospinal fluid. Julie Scott, Msn, People.com, 2 Oct. 2024 The diagnosis of cryptococcal meningitis involves a spinal tap to examine cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) extracted from between the bones of the lower spine. Brigid Dwyer, Verywell Health, 2 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for cerebrospinal fluid 

Word History

First Known Use

1828, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cerebrospinal fluid was in 1828

Dictionary Entries Near cerebrospinal fluid

Cite this Entry

“Cerebrospinal fluid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cerebrospinal%20fluid. Accessed 24 Dec. 2024.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on cerebrospinal fluid

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