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Spinal cord vascular anatomy

The anterior spinal artery has two types of branches. Sulcal branches penetrate the anterior longitudinal fissure and supply the anterior grey matter. Peripheral branches form the anterior pial arterial plexus, which (via penetrating branches) supplies the anterior white matter. The posterior pial arterial plexus (derived from the paired posterior spinal arteries) supplies the posterior white and gray matter, also via penetrating branches. (Used with permission. Goodin DS. Neurological complications of aortic disease and surgery. In: Aminoff MJ, editor. Neurology and general medicine. New York: Churchill Livingstone, 1992:27-52.)

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Associated Disorders

  • Arteritis
  • Atherosclerosis
  • Cystic medial necrosis
  • Hypertension
  • Infrarenal atherosclerotic aortic occlusion
  • PHACE (posterior fossa malformations, facial hemangiomas, arterial cerebrovascular anomalies, cardiovascular anomalies, and eye anomalies)
  • Syphilis