Clinical and morphological features of the arterial blood supply to the spinal cord

It is known that acute and chronic disorders of spinal blood circulation in clinical practice are almost always accompanied by significant risks of complications and gross residual phenomena that significantly affect the patient’s quality of life in the long term. Spinal blood circulation disorders are acute or chronic disorders caused by pathology of the vessels that provide blood supply to the spinal cord. Arterial blood supply to the spinal cord is provided from several sources. The spinal cord is supplied by branches of the following arteries: vertebral artery, ascending cervical artery, deep cervical artery, posterior intercostal arteries, lumbar and median sacral arteries, iliolumbar artery and lateral sacral arteries. In many cases, the Adamkiewicz artery, which is found in over 80 % of people, plays a significant role in ensuring blood supply to the spinal cord. This artery arises from the spinal branch (r. spinalis) of the dorsal branch (r.dorsalis) of the posterior intercostal, or subcostal, or lumbar arteries (all of these arteries arise from the descending aorta). The Adamkiewicz artery, independently and through the anterior spinal artery (after merging with it), supplies blood to the lower part of the spinal cord. Circulatory disorders in the Adamkiewicz artery can lead to severe (often irreversible) neurological consequences, including spinal cord ischemia syndrome, similar to anterior spinal artery syndrome, or spinal stroke. In addition to the above sources of blood supply to the spinal cord, some non-permanent additional arteries are also described, one of the most important of which is the Desproges-Gotteron artery. It arises from the internal iliac artery or one of its branches (usually on one side), enters the spinal canal along with the roots of the fifth lumbar or first sacral nerve and supplies blood to the conus medullaris.