Posterior spinal artery

Infobox Artery
Name = PAGENAME
Latin = arteria spinalis posterior
GraySubject = 148
GrayPage = 579


Caption = The three major arteries of the cerebellum: the SCA, AICA, and PICA. (Posterior spinal artery is not labeled, but region is visible.)

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Caption2 = 1: posterior spinal vein
2: anterior spinal vein
3: posterolateral spinal vein
4: radicular (or segmental medullary) vein
5: posterior spinal arteries
6: anterior spinal artery
7: radicular (or segmental medullary) artery
BranchFrom = vertebral or
anterior inferior cerebellar
BranchTo = Descending and ascending branch
Vein = posterior spinal veins
Supplies =
MeshName =
MeshNumber =
DorlandsPre = a_61
DorlandsSuf = 12156012
The posterior spinal artery (dorsal spinal artery) arises from the vertebral artery, adjacent to the medulla oblongata.

Path

It passes posteriorly to descend the medulla passing in front of the posterior roots of the spinal nerves. Along its course it is reinforced by a succession of segmental or radicular branches, which enter the vertebral canal through the intervertebral foramina, forming a plexus called the vasocorona. The posterior spinal arteries continue as the two major trunks down to the lower part of the medulla spinalis, and to the cauda equina.

Branches from the posterior spinal arteries form a free anastomosis around the posterior roots of the spinal nerves, and communicate, by means of very tortuous transverse branches, with the vessels of the opposite side.

Close to its origin each posterior spinal artery gives off an ascending branch, which ends ipsilaterally near the fourth ventricle.

The posterior spinal artery can often originate from the posterior inferior cerebellar artery, rather than the vertebral.

External links

* [http://pn.bmj.com/cgi/reprint/3/2/92.pdf PDF]
*
* [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/bv.fcgi?rid=spinalcord.figgrp.220 Diagram] at nih.gov
* [http://www.anaesthesiauk.com/images/spinal-cord4.jpgImage] at anaesthesiauk.com