lumbar puncture

lumbar puncture
Med. puncture into the arachnoid membrane of the spinal cord, in the lumbar region, and withdrawal of spinal fluid, performed for diagnosis of the fluid, injection of dye for imaging, or administration of anesthesia or medication. Also called spinal tap.
[1890-95]

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▪ medical procedure
also called  Spinal Tap,  

      direct aspiration (fluid withdrawal) of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) through a hollow needle. The needle is inserted in the lower back, usually between the third and fourth lumbar vertebrae, into the subarachnoid space of the spinal cord where the CSF is located. Lumbar puncture is generally performed to obtain pressure measurements and to withdraw CSF in order to secure a sample of CSF for cellular, chemical, and bacteriologic examination; to administer spinal anesthetics or antibiotics; to inject air or a radiopaque or water-soluble contrast medium substance for myelography; or to inject a radioactive substance to assist in the diagnosis of CSF leak or hydrocephalus.

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Universalium. 2010.

Look at other dictionaries:

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  • lumbar puncture — noun count a medical treatment or test in which a needle is used to INJECT medicine or take liquid from your SPINE …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • Lumbar puncture — A lumbar puncture or "LP" is a procedure whereby spinal fluid is removed from the spinal canal for the purpose of diagnostic testing. It is particularly helpful in the diagnosis of inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system,… …   Medical dictionary

  • lumbar puncture — noun removal by centesis of fluid from the subarachnoid space of the lumbar region of the spinal cord for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes • Syn: ↑spinal puncture, ↑spinal tap • Hypernyms: ↑centesis * * * ˌlumbar ˈpuncture [lumbar puncture] …   Useful english dictionary

  • lumbar puncture — a procedure performed under local anaesthetic in which cerebrospinal fluid is withdrawn by means of a hollow needle inserted into the subarachnoid space in the region of the lower back (usually between the third and fourth lumbar vertebrae). The… …   The new mediacal dictionary

  • lumbar puncture — UK / US noun [countable] Word forms lumbar puncture : singular lumbar puncture plural lumbar punctures medical a medical treatment or test in which a needle is used to inject medicine into or take liquid from your spine …   English dictionary

  • lumbar puncture — n. to do, perform a lumbar puncture * * * perform a lumbar puncture to do …   Combinatory dictionary

  • lumbar puncture — noun Date: 1895 puncture of the subarachnoid space in the lumbar region of the spinal cord to withdraw cerebrospinal fluid or inject anesthetic drugs …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • lumbar puncture — /ˈlʌmbə pʌŋktʃə/ (say lumbuh pungkchuh) noun the insertion of a hollow needle between the lumbar vertebrae into the spinal cord to draw off some of the cerebrospinal fluid, to inject drugs, etc …   Australian-English dictionary

  • lumbar puncture — noun A diagnostic and at times therapeutic procedure performed to collect a sample of cerebrospinal fluid for biochemical, microbiological, and cytological analysis, or rarely to relieve increased intracranial …   Wiktionary

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