Anterior spinal artery

The anterior spinal artery ( " anterior spinal artery " ) is the largest artery supplying the spinal cord. It runs as unpaired blood vessel at the front of the spinal cord in the spinal canal. In animals, it is therefore at the bottom of the spinal cord, and is referred to as ventral spinal artery.

Anatomy

The anterior spinal artery is formed from the two vertebrae or vertebral arteries ( arteries and vertebral ) in the amount of the pyramidal tract crossing ( decussation pyramidum ) and extends along the longitudinal fissure anterior to the front of the spinal cord caudally. The anterior spinal artery receives, besides the direct inflow of numerous segmental receipts through branches by three main arteries, the vertebral arteries in the cervical spine, the posterior intercostal arteries ( arteries, posterior intercostal ) in the thoracic spine and the lumbar arteries ( arteries lumbar ) in the lumbar spine. The branches are called Rami spinal.

The anterior spinal artery anastomosed over again numerous, around the spinal cord extending branches, with the two posterior spinal arteries that run to the back of the spinal cord. These branches can be viewed as a continuation of the spinal rami, however, are not arranged segmentally but vary in their distance.

Pathology

With closure of the anterior spinal artery by thrombosis or embolism occurs in the areas supplied by the artery defect is observed due to a resultant ischemia. The disease is called a artery - spinalis anterior syndrome.

Swell

• J. Fanghänel (ed.): Waldeyer human anatomy. de Gruyter 2003, 17th edition, p 450 ISBN 3-11-016561-9
• Trepel, Martin: Neuroanatomy. Structure and function, 3rd ed, Munich / Jena 2004, pp. 96-97. ISBN 3-437-41297-3

• Artery of the trunk
• Artery of the neck
• Spinal cord