Original Article
Spinal Cord (2008) 46, 45–49; doi:10.1038/sj.sc.3102060; published online 3 April 2007
The anterior spinal artery origin: a microanatomical study
U Er1, K Fraser1 and G Lanzino1
1Departments of Neurosurgery and Radiology, Microneurosurgery Laboratory, Illinois Neurological Institute, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria, Peoria, IL, USA
Correspondence: Dr U Er Sogutozu C, Department of Neurosurgery, Ministry of Health, Diskapi Training and Research Hospital, SB Yildirim Beyazit Egitim ve Arastirma Hastanesi, Ankara, 6110, Turkey. E-mail: uygurer@gmail.com
Received 28 November 2006; Revised 2 February 2007; Accepted 28 February 2007; Published online 3 April 2007.
Abstract
Backround:
Detailed knowledge of the pattern of origin of the anterior spinal artery is critical as surgical and endovascular procedures involving the area of the ventral medulla and the vertebrobasilar junction are commonplace. We conducted a detailed microanatomical study to elucidate the site and pattern of origin of this critically important artery.
Method:
Nine adult cadaveric heads (18 sides) were examined after injection of colored silicon. In every specimen, the site of origin of the rami of the anterior spinal artery, their course, branching pattern and anastomoses, external diameters, and the distance from neighbor critical vessels were recorded. The dissections were performed with the aid of both the surgical microscope and a 0 degree endoscope.
Findings:
The pattern and site of origin of the anterior spinal artery show great variability. Also the distance of the origin of the two rami (right and left) forming the anterior spinal artery from the vertex of the vertebrobasilar junction and from the origin of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery is highly variable.
Conclusions:
Knowledge of the different pattern of origin and course of the proximal portion of the anterior spinal artery is critically important when planning and executing endovascular and surgical procedures involving the distal vertebral artery, the vertebrobasilar junction and the ventral medulla. On the basis of our and other authors' findings, we propose an overall classification of the pattern of origin and distribution of the proximal anterior spinal artery, which has clinical repercussions.
Keywords:
anterior spinal artery, endovascular obliteration, medulla oblongata, microsurgical anatomy, microsurgery, vertebral artery
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