A doctor carries out a lumbar puncture, or spinal tap, in order to remove cerebrospinal (or spinal) fluid.
In spite of modern techniques, the procedure is often viewed with anxiety which is generally unjustified; As can be seen from the diagram, the puncture, which takes only a few minutes, is carried out with a hollow needle, which is introduced into the central, or spinal canal, between the spinal processes of the vertebral body at the height of the iliac crests. This prevents any injury to the spinal cord, which ends at least six to 10 cm further up. A local anaesthetic is not necessary.
Changes in the spinal fluid occur if the brain or spinal cord is inflamed. The spinal fluid is examined in the laboratory to detect certain characteristics, or parameters. These in turn allow the physician to detect disturbances of immune reactions in the central nervous system. People with MS will show an increased number of inflamed cells in the spinal fluid. View related illustration.
