Anatomy: spinal cord - blood supply

Question 1

ARTERIES
What are the longitudinally oriented vessels?

Answer 1

Question 2

ARTERIES
What arteries gives rise to the anterior and posterior spinal arteries?

Answer 2

Question 3

ARTERIES
Transversely oriented arteries

Answer 3

Question 4

ARTERIES
What is the difference between segmental medullary arteries, versus radicular arteries?

Answer 4

Segmental medullary arteries both supply roots and reinforce the longitudinal arteries

Radicular arteries supply the roots only; they do not reinforce the longitudinal arteries

Question 5

VEINS
Label the following:

Answer 5

Question 6

VEINS
Label the following:
- Which two veins drain into the intervertebral veins?
- Where do intervertebral veins exit?

Answer 6

The spinal veins (anterior/posterior medial/lateral)
The internal venous plexus

The intervertebral foramen

Question 7

VEINS
The intervertebral veins drain segmentally.

Where do these veins drain into in the:
- Cervical region
- Thoracic region
- Lumbar region

Where do these ultimately all drain to?

Answer 7

Vertebral veins
Azygous vein
Lumbar vein

The caval venous system

Question 8

VEINS
Are the spinal veins valveless?

Implications for cancer spread?

Answer 8

Yes

Pelvic organ cancers can metastasize into the vertebra and CNS