Title:
During which phase of the cardiac cycle is freshly actively formed cerebrospinal fluid released into the brain ventricles: systole or diastole?
Preprint (Zenodo v4): During which phase of the cardiac cycle is freshly actively formed cerebrospinal fluid released into the brain ventricles: systole or diastole? | Zenodo
Abstract / Summary
The exact timing of freshly actively formed (FAF) cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) release into the ventricles remains unclear. Using phase-contrast MRI data, a simplified mathematical model of CSF volume changes, and re-analysis of classic aqueductal cannulation experiments in cats, we propose that net caudal CSF flow is best explained by FAF CSF being released exclusively during diastole.
We introduce a passive “push-and-refill” mechanism:
- During systole: older CSF is pushed out due to increased intraventricular pressure.
- During diastole: relative negative pressure allows passive refill with newly formed CSF from the choroid plexus.
This model is consistent with clinical observations from external ventricular drains (EVD) and may help explain CSF dynamics in hydrocephalus and other neurofluid disorders.
Keywords: #CSFdynamics #Neurofluids #CardiacCycle #PhaseContrastMRI #Hydrocephalus #EVD #ChoroidPlexus
The full PDF and supporting materials are openly available on Zenodo.
I would greatly appreciate any comments, feedback, or suggestions — especially from researchers working on CSF dynamics, neurofluids, phase-contrast MRI, computational modeling, or clinical hydrocephalus management.
Looking forward to constructive discussions!