title: The infra-aortic arteries of the spine: their variability and clinical significance.
abstract: The infra-aortic spinal arteries caudal to the aortic bifurcation were studied in 20 perinatal and adult cadavers to determine their import relative to extraforaminal approaches to the lower lumbar discs as well as their probable involvement in certain cases of radiculomedullary ischemia. Analysis of these specimens indicated that, despite considerable variation, the arteries to the L4-L5 and L5-S1 intervertebral foramens generally were not related to the disc dorsolateral zones where lateral surgical approaches are best accomplished. Also, the frequency in which the fourth as well as the fifth lumbar and all sacral segmental vessels were dependent on the posterior division of the hypogastric artery may help explain how spinal cord ischemia could occur in individuals with vulnerable cord vascular patterns and/or spinal arteriopathy after interruption of hypogastric artery blood flow during pelvic operations.
authors.affiliation: Robert E. Van Demark Institute of Anatomical Research, Department of Anatomy, University of South Dakota School of Medicine, Vermillion.
authors.forename: W W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Parke
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Whalen
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Van Demark
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kambin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001011:Aorta / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000196:embryology*; D001027:Aortography; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008161:Lumbosacral Region; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013131:Spine / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000196:embryology