[Anatomical structures, physiology and pathophysiology of cerebrospinal fluid metabolism; a review for an understanding of cerebrospinal fluid findings].

The very different macroscopic and microscopic details of the structures involved in production and reabsorption of cerebrospinal fluid in the different parts of the central nervous system are causing confusing laboratory findings in cerebrospinal fluids, the ingredients of which change even under normal condition in these different parts. Moreover the chemical ingredients of cerebrospinal fluid differ especially from the normal situation during some diseases of the central nervous system. Although we can be sure that there is much more diagnostic information in cerebrospinal fluid, we mainly prefer certain standard methods today, as there are cell counts and measuring of the protein concentration, as diagnostic parameters. Their unspecific changes during several pathologic states do not yet allow to point out the exact localization of the disease, nor can they contribute in every case in finding the cause of the disease. Therefore other and more specific diagnostic laboratory methods are to be developed, which will make possible more precise statements about the nature and the localization of central nervous system diseases.