Anterior Spinal Artery (Cervical)

Origin

The singular anterior spinal artery arises from the union of the anterior spinal branches of vertebral artery.

Course

The anterior spinal artery descends in median fissure of the spinal cord, within the pia mater. It extends the length of the spinal cord.

Branches

The anterior spinal artery gives rise to numerous central branches that enter the median fissure of the spinal cord. Up to eight central branches per centimeter of the anterior spinal artery were observed (Turnbull, Brieg and Hassler, 1966).

The anterior spinal artery receives several contributions from six to ten feeder arteries, the anterior segmental medullary arteries, throughout its length.

The anterior spinal artery also contributes to the pial plexus.

Supplied Structures

The anterior spinal artery contributes to the arterial supply to the anterior two thirds of the cross-sectional area of the spinal cord (Jones et al., 2013).

List of Clinical Correlates

- Anterior spinal artery syndrome

- Spinal cord ischemia

References

Jones, H. R., Burns, T., Aminoff, M. J. and Pomeroy, S. (2013) The Netter Collection of Medical Illustrations: Nervous System, Volume 7, Part 1 - Brain e-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences.

Turnbull, I. M., Brieg, A. and Hassler, O. (1966) 'Blood supply of cervical spinal cord in man. A microangiographic cadaver study', J Neurosurg, 24(6), pp. 951-65.