Vascular Anatomy of the Spinal Cord (eBook) von Armin K. Thron

I. Introduction.- II. Historical Background.- III. Applied Methods.- Anatomical Methods.- IV. Own Investigations.- V. Vascular  Anatomy of the Spinal Cord and Spine.- A. Arterial blood supply: Embryology.- Segmental Supply to the Spine and Spinal Cord.-Extra- and Intraspinal Extradural Anastomoses.- The Spinal Branch.- Radicular and Radiculomedullary arteries.- Superficial Arteries of the Spinal Cord.- Intrinsic Arterial Systems.- Arterial Territories of Supply.- Arterio-arterial Anastomoses.- Special Features and Variations of the Arterial Supply Depending on Regions.- Spinal Cord Arteries in Space-occupying Lesions.- Discussion of Anatomical and Hemodynamical Aspects Concerning Arterial Supply.- B Venous Drainage: Intrinsic Veins.- Superficial Veins.- Transmedullary Venous Anastomoses.- Special Features and Variations of Venous Drainage Depending on Regions.- Radiculomedullary Veins and the Reflux-impeding Transdural Course.- Extradural Venous Spaces and the Extraspinal Venous System.- Special Features and Variations of Venous Drainage Depending on Regions.- Discussion of Anatomical and Hemodynamical Aspects Concerning Venous Drainage.- VI. Clinical applications.- Evaluation of Spinal Cord Angiograms in Normal and Pathological Conditions. Exemplary Cases.- Frequent pitfalls in diagnostic imaging of spinal cord blood vessels.- References.

Rapid advances in imaging technology have facilitated the solution of many diagnostic problems concerning diseases of the spine and spinal cord. But this is less true for vascular diseases of the spinal cord or diseases secondarily involving them. Furthermore, safely using interventional procedures or open surgery still requires a profound knowledge of the vascular anatomy involved. Accordingly, a growing demand for training in this special field has become evident over the last 25 years, making improvement of this knowledge in all Neuro-Specialities dealing with diagnostic and therapeutic problems of spinal disorders a highly desirable goal.