In a lumbar puncture, what is being removed for examination?

In a lumbar puncture, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is removed for examination. This procedure, also known as a spinal tap, involves inserting a thin needle into the lower part of the spinal column to collect CSF that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. This fluid is crucial for diagnosing various medical conditions, such as infections (like meningitis), inflammatory disorders (such as multiple sclerosis), and bleeding around the brain (subarachnoid hemorrhage).

The analysis of CSF can provide vital information about the health of the central nervous system, as it can show signs of infection, cell count, protein levels, and glucose concentrations. This differentiates it from the other bodily fluids listed. Blood, synovial fluid, and serum are associated with different types of medical tests and evaluations, but they do not pertain to the specific diagnostic purposes served by a lumbar puncture.