Blood Supply to the human spinal cord: Part II. Imaging and pathology

Abstract

The blood supply of the spinal cord is a complex system based on multilevel sources and anastomoses. Diseases often affect this vascular supply and imaging has been developed that better investigates these structures. The authors review the literature regarding pathology and imaging modalities for the blood supply of the spinal cord. Knowledge of the disease processes and imaging modalities used to investigate these arterial lesions of the spinal cord will assist the clinician when treating patients with spinal cord lesions.

The cervical arteries: an anatomical study with application to avoiding nerve root and spinal cord blood supply

“…The radicular arteries that join the anterior spinal artery perfused the spinal cord are clinically important (4,5,10,13,20).…”

The early history of our understanding of the functions of the spinal cord

“…Through clinical correlations between both symptoms and lesions of the spine, along with early manipulative investigations, historical researchers were able to identify the spinal cord as an important conduit for signals to and from the brain. Contemporary researchers [2,[11][12][13][14][15][16][17] have used investigative techniques that have gone beyond surgical manipulation and stimulation to visualize the various components of the central Fig. 1 and cover figure Collage demonstrating physicians who have studied the spinal cord over human history.…”

Vascular configurations of anastomotic basket of conus medullaris in human spinal cord

“…The different anatomical patterns of the anastomotic basket of the conus medullaris are highly relevant to radiological evaluation and treatment of the vascular malformations that can affect this region (Bao and Ling, ; Carangelo et al ; Kim and Spetzler, ; Krings et al ; Matushita and Caldas, ; Spetzler et al ; Tubbs et al ; Bosmia et al ; Griessenauer et al ). The asymmetric anastomotic basket could be associated with a relatively watershed zone in the side of the smaller artery, and this territory could be more prone to ischemic complications.…”