Anterior spinal artery
Dr Jeremy Jones et al.
The anterior spinal artery supplies the anterior portion of the spinal cord and arises from the vertebral artery in the region of the medulla oblongata. The two arteries (one of which is usually bigger than the other) anastamose in the midline to form a single anterior spinal artery at the level of the foramen magnum.
It descends along the anterior surface of the spinal cord. Along its course, it is reinforced by other branches that enter the vertebral canal via the intervertebral foraminae:
- brain : anterior segmental medullary arteries, branches of the vertebral artery
- neck : ascending cervical artery, branch of the inferior thyroid artery
- thorax : intercostal arteries
- abdomen : lumbar and ileolumbar arteries
- pelvis : lateral sacral arteries
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