Spinal arterial branches

At each vertebral level, a segmental artery (intercostal artery in the thoracic region, lumbar artery in the lumbar region) arises from the aorta and gives some spinal arteriel branches, that divide into three main branches as it approaches the spine:

• An anterior (ventral) branch supplying the vertebral body : the postcentral arterial branch

• Some intermediate branches, termed radicular arteries that enters the intervertebral foramen and gives rise to the radicular, radiculomedullary, and radiculopial arteries supplying the spinal cord, nerve roots, and dura with these branches:

  • Anterior radicular artery

  • Posterior radicular artery

  • Segmental medullary artery

• A dorsal (posterior) branch, the prelaminar arterial branch that courses posteriorly to supply the posterior vertebral elements (pedicles, laminae, spinous processes, facet joints) and the paraspinal musculature.