Final answer:
The statement provided is false; CSF circulates within the subarachnoid space, not the epidural space. The CSF serves as a cushion and transports metabolic wastes, and is produced by the choroid plexus, circulating around the CNS.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement 'CSF circulates around the brain and spinal cord in the epidural space' is false. In fact, CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) is found in the subarachnoid space, which lies between the arachnoid mater and the pia mater, not in the epidural space. The epidural space is an anatomical feature of the spinal column located outside the dural membrane. The subarachnoid space is the area where CSF circulates, acting as a protective buffer and transporting metabolic wastes away from the CNS (central nervous system).
CSF is produced by the choroid plexus in the ventricles of the brain, and from there circulates around the CNS, filtering through the nervous tissue before being reabsorbed into the bloodstream. The subarachnoid space around the brain and the central canal within the spinal cord serve as pathways for this circulation, ensuring that the brain and spinal cord are immersed in this protective fluid.