Human Anatomy, Part 2 - K. A. Diubenko, A. K. Kolomiitsev, Yu. B. Chaikovskyi 2008

Special Section
Nervous system, systema nervosum - Special Section
Spinal Cord - Blood Supply to the Spinal Cord

The Spinal Cord receives its Blood supply from the following arterial sources (Fig. 131): the anterior spinal artery, a. spinalis anterior, which branches off the vertebral artery, and two posterior spinal Arteries, aa. spinales posteriores, which arise from the vertebral artery, a. vertebralis, or from the posterior inferior cerebellar artery. From these arteries, blood flows only to the upper cervical segments CI-IV; the segments of the cervical spinal cord receive their blood supply from the anterior and posterior radicular arteries, aa. radiculares. The radicular arteries are Branches of the ascending cervical arteries, aa. cervicales ascendens, the costocervical trunk, truncus costocervicalis, the posterior intercostal arteries, aa. intercostales posteriores, the lumbar arteries, aa. lumbares, the lateral sacral artery, a. sacralis lateralis, and the iliolumbar artery, a. iliolumbalis, which belong to the aortic basin. The radicular arteries enter the vertebral canal through the intervertebral foramina and divide into anterior and posterior branches. They supply blood to the spinal cord, spinal ganglia, and the Meninges of the spinal cord.

Upon reaching The surface of the spinal cord, each radicular artery divides into an ascending and a descending branch, which anastomose with similar branches of the adjacent superior and inferior radicular arteries, forming one anterior and two posterior arterial tracts along the spinal cord.

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Fig. 131. Diagram of the Blood supply to the spinal cord (ventral surface)

Fig. 131 A. Diagram of the graphical reconstruction of the blood supply to the human spinal cord (after I. E. Kefeli)

The vascular network of the Gray matter is formed mainly by branches of the central arteries that penetrate the spinal cord substance through the anterior median fissure. The vascular networks of the gray matter around the central canal form the third vascular layer—the internal one.

Venous blood from the spinal cord drains into the venous network of the pia mater, then travels along the radicular Veins, v. radicularis, to the internal vertebral venous plexus, from which it flows through the intervertebral veins: in the neck, into the vertebral and deep cervical veins; in the thoracic and lumbar regions, into the posterior intercostal and lumbar veins.

Fig. 131 B. Diagram of the graphical reconstruction of the division of the three vascular layers of the human spinal cord and its septa (membranes) (after I. E. Kefeli)

1 - Median septum of the posterior funiculus; 2 - Lateral septum of the posterior funiculus; 3 - Marginal septa of the posterior ROOT, 4 - Frontal septum; 5 - Accessory septum of the lateral funiculus: 6 - Median septum (anterior); 7 - Outer vascular layer, 8 - Deep vascular layer; 9 - Inner vascular layer