What does a shunt do?

What does a shunt do?

• A. Diverts CSF away from lateral ventricles
• B. CSF is reabsorbed and excess excreted
• C. Increases CSF production
• D. Blocks CSF flow to the ventricles

Answer: (A)

Shunts work by creating a new pathway for CSF to exit the brain so pressure inside the ventricles drops. They move CSF away from the lateral ventricles to another area of the body, commonly the peritoneal cavity, where the fluid can be absorbed. This diversion directly lowers ventricular enlargement and intracranial pressure, which is the goal in hydrocephalus management.

The other ideas describe processes that aren’t what a shunt does: natural CSF reabsorption and excretion happen in the body without a device; increasing CSF production would worsen pressure rather than relieve it; and blocking CSF flow to the ventricles would hinder drainage, not provide it.