Health Library
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Lumbar Puncture (Spinal Tap)
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A lumbar puncture (also called a spinal tap) is a procedure to collect and look at the fluid ( cerebrospinal fluid, or CSF ) surrounding the brain and spinal cord. During a lumbar puncture, a needle is carefully inserted into the spinal canal low in the back (lumbar area). Samples of CSF are collected. The samples are...