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Largest anterior segmental medullary artery From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In human anatomy, the artery of Adamkiewicz (also arteria radicularis magna) is the largest anterior segmental medullary artery.[3] It typically arises from a 9th to 12th left posterior intercostal artery,[4] enters through the L2-L3 intervertebral foramen to join the anterior spinal artery and supply much of the inferior half of the spinal cord.[5]
Artery of Adamkiewicz | |
---|---|
![]() Coronal slab volume rendering image of CT aortography shows artery of Adamkiewicz entering spinal canal(arrowheads) and joining the anterior spinal artery (arrows) after a hairpin turn. | |
Details | |
Source | Abdominal aorta, posterior intercostal artery |
Branches | Anterior spinal artery[1] |
Supplies | Lumbar enlargement of lower spinal cord[2] |
Identifiers | |
Latin | rami spinales arteriae vertebralis |
TA2 | 4536 |
Anatomical terminology |
The artery is named after Albert Wojciech Adamkiewicz (August 11, 1850 – October 31, 1921), a Polish pathologist born in Żerków. It has several other names, including:
The blood supply of the spinal cord is complex and highly variable.[10] In a study of approximately 70 people that examined the spinal cord's blood supply it was found that:[4]
In 75% of people, the artery of Adamkiewicz originates on the left side of the aorta between the T8 and L1 vertebral segments.[11]
In an extensive literature review, recognition of the AKA using CT and/or MR was achieved in 466 of 555 cases (83.96%) and in 384 (83.3%) cases the AKA originated from a left intercostal artery.[12]
"Great radicular artery of Adamkiewicz… provides the major blood supply to the lumbar and sacral cord."[13]
When damaged or obstructed, it can result in a syndrome of spinal cord ischemia, similar to anterior spinal artery syndrome,[14] with loss of urinary and fecal continence and impaired motor function of the legs; sensory function is often preserved to a degree.
It is important to identify the location of the artery when surgically treating an aortic aneurysm to prevent damage which would result in insufficient blood supply to the spinal cord.[15] In bronchial artery embolization for treatment of massive hemoptysis, one of the most serious complications is inadvertent occlusion of the artery of Adamkiewicz.[16] Its location can be identified with computed tomographic angiography.[17]
It is named for Albert Wojciech Adamkiewicz.[18][19][20]
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