In all honesty, nobody knows for sure. There are only theories.
First theory which is taught by the late Dr. Upledger is that it is a pressure stat system. Let me explain what that is. It is like a water balloon that has a small hole that has water constantly leaking out at a small rate. Imagine that the balloon is the membrane encasing the brain and spinal cord with cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) in-between. That slow leak / hole in the water balloon has a passage I will take you through later. Water or CSF pumps in as pressure receptor indicate to the pump which is at the choroid plexus of the 3rd and 4th ventricles of the brain. These pressure receptors are at the cranial bones. As fluid leaks out, the cranial bones close together adding more pressure at the sutures of the cranial bones. So as CSF is pumped into the "balloon" again the cranial bones move apart. At a certain point the sutures that hold the cranial bones together stretch because they are made of elastin ( like elastic they stretch). This sends out a stretch receptor response to indicate to the "pump" to stop pumping. This cycle is on continuous repeat to supply the central nervous system fresh nutrition, hydration, and to clean out metabolic waste.
Can you see that balloon with a small leak, with a pump inside it to keep up with that leak? Now add the brain and spinal cord inside it and you have the pressure stat model. This is water is theoretically causing the sway of the cranial sacral rhythm. Pumping up and leaking out.
New theory has come out to expand on this model.
I will have to finish this blog later to tell the details of this and add some pictures!
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