Vascular Anatomy of Spinal Cord

Baik, Min Woo

Abstract

The anatomy of spinal cord vessels is formed systematically by three constitutions, extrinsic and intrinsic spinal arteries and veins. The extrinsic arterial supply to the cord has a metameric organization and makes a functionally efficient system that assimilates different tissues with single source of supply. The intrinsic blood supply to the spinal cord covers the territories under the control of the sulcal arteries anteriorly and radial arteries arising from pial network. As with the cerebral vasculature, increased interest is paid in the role of the vein that present the key factor of equilibrium in the tissue perfusion of the normal spinal cord. The normal anatomy of the spinal vessels as well as the tremendous interindividual variations forms the basis for our understanding of primary or secondary spinal cord circulatory disorders.