Intraspinal Vascular Perfusion Territories of the Descending Thoracic Aorta

This cadaver-based study evaluated the variations in vascular perfusion territories of the descending thoracic aorta, including variations in the anatomy of the artery of Adamkiewicz. The authors found important variations in origin and location of the artery of Adamkiewicz and demonstrated its importance, along with the anterior spinal arteries in spinal cord perfusion. This was based on the differential dye staining of the anterior and posterior aspects of the spinal cord along its entire length. A pictorial representation of these differences is shown, as well as variations in the anatomy of the arterial supply itself.