Posterior spinal arteries

Organization and role

Their territory includes the dorsal columns, with anatomical variations and communicating vessels. They function alongside segmental contributions and the anterior spinal artery network.

Clinical relevance and investigation

Symptoms of vascular injury depend on the affected territory. Specialist examination and imaging investigate the cause without assuming every sensory change reflects disc compression.

Points to consider

Neural tissue depends on continuous blood supply. A vessel disorder can have consequences different from disc compression, even when symptoms overlap. Sudden weakness or new loss of function requires urgent assessment.

Role of TAGMED care

At TAGMED, assessment aims to understand symptoms, history and functional limitations. Manual care and osteopathy, motorized spinal decompression, laser and shockwave have different indications. The term described in this entry is not enough to select any of these modalities. Their relevance, limitations and possible contraindications should be discussed in relation to diagnosis and individual goals.

Related concepts and distinctions

These concepts belong to the same field, but are not synonyms.

• Anterior spinal artery — Longitudinal artery on the anterior spinal cord that, with segmental contributions, supplies much of its anterior portion.
• Artery of Adamkiewicz — Large anterior radiculomedullary artery reinforcing thoracolumbar spinal cord blood supply, with a variable origin and course.
• Vertebral artery — Artery usually arising from the subclavian artery, passing through cervical transverse foramina before contributing to posterior brain circulation.

Medical references

1. OpenStax, Rice University. Anatomy and Physiology 2e — Circulation and the Central Nervous System.
2. Radiological Society of North America. RadLex Radiology Lexicon — terminology resource.

References document the topic; their inclusion does not imply endorsement of TAGMED services by those organizations.