Spinal Cord Infarction

Abstract

Blood supply to the spinal cord is derived from a midline anterior spinal artery and two more lateral posterior spinal arteries. Spinal cord ischaemia is generally due to a lesion of the anterior spinal artery, very rarely of a posterior spinal artery. Blood supply to the middle part of the spinal cord is derived from the anterior spinal artery. This artery is supplied by 4–8 radiculomedullary arteries derived from cervical vertebral, thoracic intercostal and lumbar arteries. The largest one is known as the artery of Adamkiewicz, generally arising on the left side at T8–T10. The posterior spinal arteries supply the peripheral region of the spinal cord and form a perispinal anastomotic pial network. These arteries are derived from 10 to 20 radiculopial arteries, branches of cervical vertebral arteries, thoracic intercostal arteries and lumbar arteries.