Lasjaunias P, Vallee B, Person H, Ter Brugge K, Chiu M
J Neurosurg. 1985 Aug;63(2):235-41. doi: 10.3171/jns.1985.63.2.0235.
The lateral spinal artery corresponds to the most rostral extent of the posterolateral arterial axis of the spinal cord. It supplies the posterior and lateral aspects of the spinal cord, and courses anterior to the posterior roots of the upper cervical spinal nerves (C-1 to C-4), and posterior to the dentate ligament. The lateral spinal artery anastomoses rostrally with the branches of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) at the restiform body and laterally with the extraspinal arteries at the emergence of each nerve. It may originate either from the vertebral artery or from the PICA lateral to the medulla. Certain variations will cause an unusual but normal enlargement of the vessel in a specific portion of its course; these variations include vertebral artery duplication, a C-1 or C-2 vertebral origin of the PICA, a C-1 or C-2 occipital origin of the PICA, and an intradural course of the vertebral artery at C-2. Knowledge of these variations in the arterial supply to the area allows for an understanding of the different anatomic peculiarities present and their angiographic importance.
脊髓外侧动脉与脊髓后外侧动脉轴的最头端范围相对应。它供应脊髓的后部和外侧部分，走行于上颈段脊神经（C-1至C-4）后根的前方，齿状韧带的后方。脊髓外侧动脉在头端与小脑下后动脉（PICA）的分支在绳状体处吻合，在外侧与每条神经穿出部位的椎管外动脉吻合。它可起源于椎动脉或延髓外侧的PICA。某些变异会导致该血管在其行程的特定部位出现异常但正常的增粗；这些变异包括椎动脉重复、PICA起源于C-1或C-2椎动脉、PICA起源于C-1或C-2枕动脉以及椎动脉在C-2水平的硬膜内走行。了解该区域动脉供应的这些变异有助于理解所存在的不同解剖学特点及其血管造影的重要性。
