Which of the following is a function of CSF?

• A. Cushions the CNS (shock absorption)
• B. Regulates body temperature
• C. Produces red blood cells
• D. Transmits neural impulses

Answer: (A)

Cerebrospinal fluid mainly cushions and protects the brain and spinal cord, providing mechanical protection and buoyancy. By surrounding the CNS in the ventricles and subarachnoid space, CSF reduces the effective weight of the brain, lowering the risk of injury from movement and impact. It also helps maintain a stable chemical environment—circulating nutrients, removing waste, and supporting homeostasis of the neural milieu. CSF is produced by the choroid plexus in the ventricles, flows through the ventricular system and around the CNS, and is reabsorbed into the venous system, helping regulate intracranial pressure.

It doesn’t produce red blood cells—hematopoiesis occurs in bone marrow—and neural impulses are transmitted via neurons and synapses, not through CSF. Temperature regulation is governed by hypothalamic and autonomic mechanisms, not a direct function of CSF.