Question

Spinal anesthesia is most often administered into the ________?

1) Subarachnoid space
2) Epidural space
3) Intrathecal space
4) Cerebrospinal fluid

Answer 1

Spinal anesthesia is most often administered into the subarachnoid space, where the cerebrospinal fluid circulates, to provide anesthetic effect for lower body surgeries.

Step-by-step explanation:

Spinal anesthesia is most often administered into the subarachnoid space. This area is chosen for spinal anesthesia because it is filled with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which provides a liquid cushion to the brain and spinal cord. The subarachnoid space allows the anesthetic to be mixed with the CSF, effectively numbing the area below the injection site. The CSF occupies the space between the arachnoid mater and the pia mater and circulates around the central nervous system, carrying metabolic wastes away and acting as a protective buffer inside the protective dura mater.

The CSF is produced by the choroid plexus in the ventricles of the brain, circulates through the ventricular system, and enters the subarachnoid space where it can have a direct effect on the central nervous system when local anesthetics are introduced. This procedure provides anesthesia for surgeries involving the lower extremities, pelvis, or lower abdomen. The chosen location for spinal anesthesia ensures that the anesthetic agent has immediate access to the nervous system within this fluid cushioned space.