lumbar puncture (LP)
« Back to Glossary IndexA lumbar puncture (or LP), which is informally called a spinal tap, is a medical procedure in which a needle is inserted through the skin of the lower back between two vertebrae, or bones of the spinal column, into the spinal canal. A sample of the cerebrospinal fluid is then removed and sent to a laboratory for testing.
Synonyms:
spinal tap