Anatomical study on the spinal arteries in the domestic cat (Felis domesticus)

Abstract

To study the normal distribution of the arteries that supply the spinal cord of the cat, a colored latex solution was injectedin the aorta of ten adult cats. The specimens were dissected to expose the spinal arteries in this species. The main arterialsupplments of the spinal cord were the ventral spinal and dorsal spinal arteries. These arteries along their courses receivedseveral radicular arteries that arose from the vertebral, dorsal intercostal and lumbar arteries. Comparing the resultsobtained with those commonly described in humans, it is clear that the domestic cat shows a great similarity in mostrespects. However, marked variability of the spinal arteries arising from segmental arteries, the origin of the ventral spinalartery and the origin and presence of the Adamkiewicz artery were recorded. Overall, the data show that, from ananatomical standpoint, the cat seems to be a good model for spinal cord ischemia in humans