Cerebrospinal Fluid Leaks of the Skull Base: Physiology and Pathophysiology

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a colorless body fluid present within the central nervous system. CSF carries out essential functions in the central nervous system through maintenance of homeostasis, protection from trauma, and control of development. Classic experiments on CSF production postulated that CSF is produced in the choroid plexus and absorbed in the arachnoid granulations, but modern studies suggest that CSF is produced and absorbed through the entirety of the neuroaxis, with its movement primarily dependent on the cardiac cycle. This review will cover current concepts of CSF physiology and pathophysiology of CSF leaks of the skull base.