What is a lumbar puncture?

Diagnostic test: A lumbar puncture is a test where a needle is inserted into the spinal canal to draw out a small amount of cerebral spinal fluid for diagnostic testing purposes, such as diagnosing meningitis.

A diagnostic test.: A lumbar puncture usually refers to a procedure that removes a small amount of CSF from the sack that surrounds the spinal cord. It is also sometimes called a spinal tap.

What is the question: What is your question about lumbar puncture? It is a procedure to get spinal fluid out of the spinal column to investigate for infection, protein, blood and other tests. Can be done to evaluate for meningitis, brain hemorrhage, multiple sclerosis.

Fluid: Diagnostic aspiration of fluid from the space around the spinal cord. May identify certain infections, or even malignancies. If coupled with dye injection is a myelogram. If coupled with anesthetic drugs it is a " spinal " anesthetic.