lumbar puncture (spinal tap)

A lumbar puncture, or spinal tap, is a medical procedure used to collect a small amount of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the space around the spinal cord, typically between the lower back vertebrae. This fluid offers important information about infections, bleeding, or neurological conditions. The procedure involves numbing the area with local anesthesia, then inserting a thin needle into the lower back to access the CSF. It generally takes a few minutes, and patients are usually advised to lie still afterward to prevent headaches or discomfort. The collected fluid is then analyzed in a laboratory for diagnostic purposes.