Spinal cord arterial supply


arterial-supply

Anterior spinal artery

  • Originates from small branches of the vertebral arteries that fuse into a single trunk at the level of foramen magnum.
  • Descends along the anterior median fissure and receives several tributaries along its course that pass through the intervertebral foramina.
  • The most important tributary is the artery of Adamkiewicz which typically arises at the level of the 9th to 12th intercostal artery on the left.
  • Other arteries supplying tributaries include:
    • Vertebral
    • Ascending cervical
    • Inferior thyroid
    • Lumbar
    • Iliolumbar
    • Lateral sacral

Posterior spinal arteries

  • Arise from the PICA (75%) or vertebral arteries (25%).
  • Descend posterolaterally along the entire spinal cord and receive multiple segmental and radicular tributaries that enter the spinal canal through the intervertebral foramina.
  • The paired posterior spinal arteries anastomose at multiple levels and also form anastomoses with the anterior spinal artery through a spinal pial plexus.