Lumbar Information and Courses from MediaLab, Inc.
These are the MediaLab courses that cover Lumbar and links to relevant pages within the course.
Learn more about laboratory continuing education for medical technologists to earn CE credit for AMT, ASCP, NCA, and state license renewal and recertification. Or get information about laboratory safety and compliance courses that deliver cost-effective OSHA safety training and continuing education to your laboratory's employees.
| Where does most cerebrospinal fluid originate? | View Page |
| What is the most common site for a spinal puncture? | View Page |
| CSF Specimen Collection Process The cerebrospinal fluid sample is obtained by a physician usually via lumbar puncture in the L3-L4 region.
The opening pressure is first measured (nl 90-180 mm of water in lateral position) and if it is elevated greater than 200 mm, no more than 2 ml of CSF should be withdrawn. Sterile technique is always used to reduce the risk of infection. Care must be taken to avoid injury to neural tissue.
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| Which of the following conditions is most likely when an oligoclonal band is seen in CSF electrophoresis without a corresponding serum peak? | View Page |
| Scenario #3Jim spends most of his workday sitting on a stool at the technical workbench. The image on this page illustrates how he routinely sits. Lately, he has been experiencing lower back and leg discomfort that continues to bother him when he leaves work. He has been having trouble sleeping because of the pain in his legs. Eventually, the pain progresses to the point where he cannot work an entire day. What may have caused the problem and what could have been done to prevent the MSD from developing? Consider what could be the problem based on your observation of Jim's normal sitting position. Then click on the blue text below to see the ergonomic evaluation and possible solutions. | View Page |
| Body Position Take frequent posture breaks; if standing, sit periodically. If sitting, stand about every 20 minutes and walk around. Shoulders and Arms Keep the shoulders relaxed, not shrugged-up or slumped-down. Keep your elbows close to your body Keep work at elbow height and directly in front of you as shown in the image below. Head and Neck Avoid situations that require prolonged or repetitive twisting, forward-bending, or backward-bending of the neck.Hands and Wrists Keep the hand in line with the forearm. Avoid repetitive twisting of the wrists. Avoid working with wrists pressed against hard surfaces or edges as shown in the image below. Feet and Legs Place a foot on a footrest for comfort Provide a toe space to allow work closer to counters and reduce reaching. Use mats on hard floors to reduce fatigue as shown in the image below.Back Stand straight. Avoid situations that require bending forward, backward, leaning side-to-side, or twisting. Use a stool to provide an occasional change in posture. If working seated, use a back rest/support to maintain proper posture. The chair that is shown in the image below offers neck, back, and lumbar support. | View Page |
| Work Station Evaluate your work station including leg room, reach radius, accessibility of commonly used materials, and height of the work surface. Adequate space should be available to accomodate equipment and allow for full range of motion. ChairPersonnel who sit for long periods of time should adjust chairs so that feet are flat on the floor or on a footrest. Chairs should have some primary features that can be easily adjusted including controls to raise and lower chair, seat pan adjustment, lumbar support, and backrest tilt or angle. Adjust the seatback slightly forward if necessary to avoid leaning forward unsupported or jutting your head forward. Reach radius Regularly used items should be close to the worker to avoid leaning forward and over-extending reach radius. Adjust your work space so that you can reach tools and equipment without unusual bending or twisting.Avoid reaching or bending - arrange the work area properly within the "work zone". Avoid reaching more than 10 - 15 inches in front of the body for frequently used materials or 20 inches for items that are used occasionally.Avoid reaching above shoulder height, below waist level, or behind the body to minimize shoulder strain.Avoid repetitive work that requires full arm extension (i.e., the elbow held straight and the arm extended).The image illustrates a workstation that is used by a technologist who performs microscopic work for the majority of the workday. The workstation is designed to prevent musculoskeletal disorders and fatigue. | View Page |