Lecture 7: Spinal Cord Blood Supply Flashcards
Where do the anterior and posterior spinal arteries originate?
Vertebral artery at base of brainstem
How is the lower spinal cord supplied below T2?
Segmental arteries- spinal branches, branches off intercostal, lumbar, and lateral sacral arteries
How is the spinal cord supplied above T2?
Subclavian branches, branches off vertebral artery
Radicular Artery
Medullary artery that does not reach anterior or posterior artery; supplies ventral and dorsal nerve roots. Segmental arteries proceed past the roots and join the ant/post arteries
Where do segmental arteries originate lower in the spinal cord?
They come off the aorta or sacral artery
Artery of Adamkiewicz
Largest radicular artery, enters intervertebral foramen at T9-12
Spinal watersheds
Areas of spinal cord that get blood from above and below; not from medullary arteries
What area of the spinal cord does the posterior spinal artery supply?
Posterior 1/3 of spinal cord
What area of the spinal cord does the anterior spinal artery supply?
Anterior 2/3 of spinal cord
Posterior spinal artery syndrome
- Dorsal column lost on one side
- Loss of ipsilateral touch, 2-point, vibration below lesion
Anterior spinal artery syndrome
- Contralateral loss of pain/temp 2 levels below lesion
- UMN signs below lesion after spinal shock
- LMN signs at level of lesion
- Touch, temp, vibration intact
- Initial loss of autonomic control below lesion
Central cord syndrome
- Loss of LMNs to arms without UMN damage to lower body
- Hyperextension of neck
- CSF pressure
- Tumor
- Man in a barrel syndrome
Brown-Séquard Syndrome
- Spinal cord hemisection
- LMN signs at level of lesion
- UMN signs below lesion
- Loss of fine touch/vib/conscious proprioception below lesion
- Contralateral loss of pain/temp 2 levels below lesion
