The Craniosacral System

The Craniosacral System is a semi-enclosed hydraulic system encompassing the brain and spinal cord.

Dr. Upledger described this system to consist of the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord, extending from the bones of the skull (which make up the cranium) down to the tailbone area (or sacrum).

The function of the cerebrospinal fluid is to  maintain the physiological environment in which the brain and nervous system develop, live and function. Within the system, the cerebrospinal fluid rhythmically pulses at a rate of about ten cycles per minute. This is independent of heart or respiratory rhythms.

The craniosacral system’s fluid barrier is the dura mater, which also composes the skull’s inside lining. This membraneous barrier is also attached to the upper neck vertebrae (C2-C3), the lower back sacrum (S2), and the tailbone (the periosteum of the coccyx).

Any occurrence that interferes with the membrane’s ability to accommodate the rhythmically fluctuating fluid pressures and volumes is a potential problem.

The craniosacral system