Definition

1. Noun:
   • A medical procedure: A spinal tap is a diagnostic or therapeutic medical procedure. It involves the removal of cerebrospinal fluid from the subarachnoid space in the lumbar region of the spinal cord using a hollow needle. This procedure is also formally known as a lumbar puncture.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The doctor ordered a spinal tap to check for signs of infection in the central nervous system.
  • A spinal tap can help diagnose conditions like meningitis or multiple sclerosis.
  • The patient experienced a headache after the spinal tap.

Advanced Usage

• "to perform a spinal tap": to carry out the lumbar puncture procedure.
  • The neurologist will perform a spinal tap this afternoon.
• "to undergo a spinal tap": to be the patient receiving the procedure.
  • The child had to undergo a spinal tap to rule out bacterial meningitis.

Variants and Related Words

• Lumbar puncture (n): The formal medical term for a spinal tap.
  • Lumbar puncture is the preferred term in clinical documentation.
• Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis (n): The primary diagnostic test performed on the fluid obtained from a spinal tap.
  • The cerebrospinal fluid analysis from the spinal tap revealed elevated protein levels.

Synonyms

• Lumbar puncture: The direct synonym and technical term.

Related Phrases

• Diagnostic lumbar puncture: A spinal tap performed specifically to diagnose a disease.
  • The diagnostic lumbar puncture confirmed the presence of cancer cells in the CSF.
• Therapeutic lumbar puncture: A spinal tap performed to relieve pressure or administer medication.
  • A therapeutic lumbar puncture was done to reduce intracranial pressure.

Noun

1. removal by centesis of fluid from the subarachnoid space of the lumbar region of the spinal cord for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes