CASE STUDIE
During clinical rounds you were asked if you wished to observe a lumbar puncture. You
enthusiastically said “yes”. Before begining the procedure, the physician asked you three
questions.
1. What parts of the ilia are important landmarks when preparing to perform a lumbar
puncture?
2. Where does the spinal cord usually terminate in adults?
R// // usually the spinal cord in adults ends a level of the lower edge of the first lumbar
vertebra
3. Where would you insert the lumbar puncture needle?
R// the lumbar puncture is done at the level of the superior postero iliac crest, in the
intervertebral space l3 and l4.
to extract the cerebrospinal fluid to determine the presence of a disease or injury
