anatomy
Last reviewed 01/2018
The anterior spinal artery is one of the major arteries to the spinal cord. It is formed from branches of the vertebral arteries as they unite in the median fissure of the spinal cord. It runs the length of the cord.
The anterior spinal artery is vulnerable to the effects of vascular disease since it has a relatively poor collateral supply. It is joined by 7-10 unpaired radicular branches, usually on the left side.
It is at it's narrowest at T8 so that the spinal cord is particularly liable to damage during hypertension at this level.
Penetrating branches supply the anterior and part of the posterior part of the grey matter; circumferential branches, supply the anterior white matter over the anterior two-thirds of the cord.