Ultrasonic study of human cerebrospinal fluid

Abstract

Human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has been is collected from various individuals of both sex including infants. Sound velocity and density have been measured in these samples and acoustical properties such as adiabatic compressibility and acoustic impedance have been calculated. The observed variations have been used to interpret the possible interaction among the components of CSF. It has been found that age and sex play an important role in deciding the sound velocity in CSF. The restriction in wave propagation is observed due to the change of structure of protein molecules of CSF. A specific reduction in sound velocity is observed in aged female subjects, which has been attributed to the increase in specific protein AZ 68. Lack of estrogen is reflected in CSF analysis.