The Pressurestat Model Explains the

Craniosacral Rhythm
The Pressurestat Model illustrates the mechanism behind the circulation of cerebrospinal
fluid through the semi-closed, hydraulic craniosacral system.
Originally defined by Dr. John Upledger and a team of researchers at Michigan State
University in the 1970s, the model explains the palpable, rhythmic expansion and
contraction of the craniosacral system.
The brain and spinal cord are surrounded by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). This fluid transports
nutrients, hormones and peptides. It removes metabolic waste and toxic substances. It
serves as a shock absorber, floating the brain to counteract gravity. It even influences
respiration and cerebral blood flow, among its many functions. Given all this, its easy to
see how essential it is for CSF to flow unimpaired. If an area of brain tissue is even
partially deprived of optimal CSF motion and flow, that area will be forced into some
degree of functional compromise.
Cerebrospinal fluid is held within the dural membrane that surrounds the brain and spinal
cord. This tough, watertight sac takes the shape of the interior of the cranium and
intervertebral canal. Though dura mater doesnt stretch much, this fluid container is flexible
and allows for CSF pressure changes. When pressure increases, the dural membrane
expands, and the bones of the cranium and sacrum move along with it. When pressure
decreases, the reverse occurs.
This filling of the craniosacral system is known as flexion, and the emptying is known as
extension. During flexion, the head becomes wider transversely and shorter in its anteriorposterior dimension. The whole body externally rotates and widens. After flexion, this
motion passes through a neutral zone on its way into extension, during which the head
narrows and elongates and the whole body internally rotates.
Under normal circumstances, the craniosacral system proceeds cyclically through flexion
and extension at a rate of about six to 12 cycles per minute. We can feel this rhythm at
various places on the body because this whole-body response is probably due to the
pumping effect of the cerebrospinal fluid upon the motor system which causes a
rhythmical tonification and detonification of the myofascial system in response to
rhythmically fluctuating nerve signals.2

Tracing the Flow of Cerebrospinal Fluid Through the

Craniosacral System
So, we have a hydraulic system that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. To understand how
it is semi-closed, we must first understand how CSF enters and leaves the system. Within
the ventricles of the brain, youll find a capillary network the choroid plexus that

produces CSF. In essence, blood circulating through the choroid plexus is turned into
CSF, which then enters the craniosacral system.
he choroid plexus has stretch- and compression-sensing receptors within the saggital suture
of the cranium. As CSF is added to the craniosacral system and its volume increases, the
dural container expands, spreading the bones of the head. The parietal bones then move
apart and spread the saggital suture. When this happens, the whole neuromechanism signals
the choroid plexus to stop or greatly reduce the production of CSF. As the fluid drains from
the system, the dura and cranium shrink and the parietals come together, compressing the
saggital suture. The pressure-sensing nerve endings connected to the choroid plexus then
send a signal to resume CSF production and the cycle repeats.
Normally, the system seems to operate on a cycle of about six seconds; CSF is produced for
about three seconds and then production ceases for about three seconds. This creates the
rhythmical rise and fall of fluid pressure within the system.
From the lateral ventricles, CSF enters the third ventricle via the foramina of Monro, then
the fourth ventricle via the cerebral aqueduct. The CSF then enters the subarachnoid space
and the central canal of the spinal cord via the foramina of Luschka and of Magendie,
where it joins the CSF that is already bathing the brain and spinal cord, and all neural tissue
enclosed by the dura mater. The fluid then circulates down and around the spinal cord and
up and around the brain.
Cerebrospinal fluid passes out of the semi-closed hydraulic system via folds called
arachnoid granulation bodies or arachnoid villae of the arachnoid layer of the cranial
meninges that project through the inner layer of dura mater into the venous sinuses of the
brain.3 CSF is reabsorbed into the venous blood through these arachnoid villae, which are
primarily in the saggital venous sinous.
Although the rate of reabsorption is fairly constant, it seems to be regulated (think of a car
idling) by a cluster of arachnoid granulation bodies found at the anterior end of the straight
sinus. From its position at the crossroads of the intracranial membranes, this cluster can
become aware of any tension within the membrane system and may regulate the outflow of
CSF accordingly.
To summarize in a different way, the craniosacral system is like a leaking toilet with the
tank cracked into pieces and lined with a giant exam glove (which is the dural membrane).
The float-switch in the toilet tank is the saggital suture, which causes an inflow whenever
enough water/CSF leaks away down the drain (sinuses).

Generating Whole-Body Effects

The craniosacral system is intimately related to the nervous, musculoskeletal, vascular,
lymphatic, endocrine and respiratory systems. Just as abnormalities in the structure or
function of any of these systems can influence the craniosacral system, abnormalities in or
injuries to the structure or function of the craniosacral system can have profound and

deleterious effects on the development or function of the nervous system, especially the
brain.4
There are also ways in which the craniosacral system directly influences important,
ongoing physiological processes. For instance, the continuing rhythmical movement of the
system may serve to milk the pituitary gland and affect the neuroendocrine system. The
rhythmic motion may also be an important stimulus for the development of the brain.
Similarly, the motion around the skull sutures may pump the newly formed red blood cells
out of the flat bones of the skull and into the general circulation.5
Of course, any abnormality of the craniosacral system could impact the body or any of its
parts through the central nervous system. Any deficiency in circulation of CSF could affect
brain and nerve functioning. Any restriction of nerves passing out of the craniosacral
system due to restrictions in the cranial sutures or membranes may affect their end organs.
Thanks to the Pressurestat Model, we can see why.