• Question: You know how our brain needs water, how does the water get to the brain? because you would think that the water has no way to get up to the brain, does it travel through the viens or something?

    Asked by annabelbutcher to Suzi on 24 Jun 2011.
    • Photo: Suzi Gage

      Suzi Gage answered on 24 Jun 2011:

      Hi @annabelbutcher
      Great question!
      Water reaches the brain in the form of cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF). Which as you might expect, is the fluid that you find in the spine, and in the head. It fills the spaces in your brain (called ventricles) and surrounds it. Having it there is very important as it keeps the brain ‘buoyant’ in your skull, and also carries nutrients and waste to and from the brain.

      However, too much water (or rather CSF) is bad for the brain, and can lead to a nasty condition called Hydrocephalus (water on the brain, as it used to be known) – when there is too much CSF there is too much pressure on the brain as the ventricles widen. This can be really dangerous and even potentially life threatening.

      Hope this answers your question 🙂

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