Question

Evalina's severe headaches and other symptoms were suggestive of meningitis, so her physician ordered a spinal tap. List the struc-tures that the needle will pierce from the most superficial to the deepest. Why would the physician order a test in the spinal region to check a problem in Evalina's head?

Answer 1

The lumbar puncture (spinal tap) pierces the structures in order :

Skin, subcutaneous tissue, supraspinous ligament, interspinous ligament, ligamentum flavum, epidural space containing the internal vertebral venous plexus, Dura, arachnoid and finally the subarachnoid space.

In meningitis, there is infection of meninges of central nervous system ( Dura mater or arachnoid or pia mater or more than one). Due to this ,there is certain biochemical and pathological changes in CSF from the normal value ,CSF pressure changes and causative organisms may be found in CSF ( bacteria or virus or fungi). For confirmation of meningitis, spinal tap (lumbar puncture) is done to collect CSF ,then CSF examination is done.