CSF and Semen Analysis Lecture Flashcards

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering the physiological characteristics, collection procedures, gross examination, and chemical analysis of Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) and Seminal Fluid based on the lecture material.

Ependymal cells

Epithelial cells that range in shape from squamous to columnar, line the central cavities of the brain and spinal column, and separate CNS interstitial fluid from cerebrospinal fluid.

CSF volume (Adult)

Normal total volume in adults is $90-150\,ml$, with $25\,ml$ in the ventricles and subarachnoid space.

Normal CSF opening pressure (Adults)

$90-180\,mm$ of water.

Xanthochromia

Pink, orange, or yellow discoloration of CSF due to RBC lysis, hemoglobin breakdown, or hyperbilirubinemia.

Froin's syndrome

A condition associated with a complete spinal block that results in clot formation in the CSF.

Fusch-Rosenthal chamber

A counting chamber used for total cell counts consisting of 18 large squares ($1\,mm^2$ each) with a depth of $0.2\,mm$ and a total volume of $3.6\,uL$.

Cytocentrifuge

The recommended method for the differential count of all body fluids, requiring albumin (bovine serum albumin) to minimize artifactual distortions.

Hypoglycorrhachia

A CSF glucose level $< 40\,mg/dL$ ($2.2\,mmol/L$) or a CSF/plasma glucose ratio $< 0.3$, often seen in bacterial, tuberculous, and fungal meningitis.

Oligoclonal bands

Discrete populations of IgG (kappa and lambda) resolved in MS using high resolution agarose gel electrophoresis or silver staining.

Myelin basic protein (MBP)

A surrogate marker during acute MS exacerbations that correlates with CSF leukocyte count and intrathecal IgG synthesis.

Protein 14-3-3

A protein determined by immunoassay that is present in the CSF of patients with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD).

Seminal vesicles

Glands that produce $60\%$ of seminal fluid and provide high fructose content for sperm motility.

Prostate gland

Gland that produces $20-30\%$ of seminal fluid, which is acidic and contains ACP, citric acid, Zinc, and proteolytic enzymes for coagulation and liquefaction.

Liquefaction time

The time required for fresh clotted semen to turn liquid, normally within $30-60\,mins$ at RT.

Oligospermia

A condition where the sperm concentration is $< 20 \times 10^6/mL$.

Azoospermia

The complete absence of spermatozoa in the ejaculate.

Aspermia

The complete absence of an ejaculate.

Sperm Vitality

Evaluated using eosin y or eosin-nigrosin stains; normal result is $\ge 75\%$ viable (unstained) sperms.

Peroxidase Method

A technique used to differentiate peroxidase-positive leukocytes (stained brown) from peroxidase-negative spermatids (unstained) in semen.