Guide to Spinal Taps
What Is a Spinal Tap?
What Does It Test For?
Before Your Spinal Tap
Where Is It Done?
Spinal Tap Preparation
Spinal Tap Body Position
Spinal Tap Needle Insertion
During the Procedure
After Your Spinal Tap
At Home
Spinal Tap Risks
CSF Test Results
IMAGES PROVIDED BY:
1) BSIP / Medical Images
2) Clockwise from top left: Airelle-Joubert / Science Source, Medical Body Scans / Science Source, Comstock / Getty Images, James Cavallini / Science Source
3) SDI Productions / Getty Images
4) Philippe Garo / CHU de Nice / Science Source
5) Barry Slaven / Medical Images
6) BruceBlaus / Wikipedia
7) ttsz / Getty Images
8) VOISIN / PHANIE / Science Source
9) CAIA IMAGE / Science Source
10) WebMD
11) Pollyana Ventura / Getty Images
12) BaltzarDK / Getty Images
SOURCES:
Columbia University School of Neurology: “Spinal Tap or Lumbar Puncture.” InformedHealth.org: “What happens during a lumbar puncture (spinal tap)?”
University of Rochester Medical Center: “Lumbar Puncture.”
U.S. National Library of Medicine: “Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Analysis.”
RadiologyInfo.org: “Lumbar Puncture.”