Corpus: Posterior spinal artery

The posterior spinal artery is a paired blood vessel that branches from the vertebral artery and supplies the dorsal side of the spinal cord.

The posterior spinal arteries run caudally along the medulla oblongata and the spinal cord on both sides within the posterolateral sulcus. Their course can be discontinuous, with the artery on the opposite side compensating to maintain blood supply. These arteries receive additional blood flow from spinal branches that enter through the intervertebral foramina. These branches originate from various arteries, including the ascending cervical artery, the deep cervical artery, and the segmental intercostal and lumbar arteries.

The posterior spinal arteries are connected to the anterior spinal artery by numerous small transverse and longitudinal pial collateral vessels, forming a vascular network around each spinal cord segment known as the vasocorona medullaris.

The posterior spinal arteries are responsible for supplying blood to the posterior horns and posterior columns of the spinal cord.