One-Dimensional Model for Cerebrospinal Fluid Pulse in the Spinal Column

Propagation of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pulse may play a role in the genesis of some pathologies of the spinal cord. We used a coaxial tube geometry and one-dimensional (1D) approximation to model CSF dynamics in the spinal column. The 1D theory predicts the existence of two modes of wave propagation which are consistent with those reported by other similar studies. The developed 1D theory was next used to simulate propagation of the CSF pulse in a simple model of the spinal column for physiologically plausible excitation scenarios. In the future we intend to integrate the 1D model of the spinal column and a lumped-parameter model of the cranial CFS compartment.