The 'posterior spinal artery' ('dorsal spinal artery') arises from the
vertebral artery, adjacent to the
medulla oblongata. It passes posteriorly to descend the medulla passing in front of the
posterior roots of the
spinal nerves. Along its course it is reinforced by a succession of segmental or radicular branches, which enter the
vertebral canal through the
intervertebral foramina, forming a plexus called the vasocorona. The posterior spinal arteries continue as the two major trunks down to the lower part of the
medulla spinalis, and to the
cauda equina.
Branches from the posterior spinal arteries form a free
anastomosis around the
posterior roots of the spinal nerves, and communicate, by means of very tortuous transverse branches, with the vessels of the opposite side.
Close to its origin each posterior spinal artery gives off an ascending branch, which ends ipsilaterally near the
fourth ventricle.
External links
★
Vascular Anatomy of the Spinal Cord and Cord Ischaemia, S. Lamin and J. J. Bhattacharya, , , Practical Neurolog, 2003 PDF
★