Skip to content
Robotic Spine Universe

Structures · Blood vessels

Artery of Adamkiewicz

The largest feeder to the front of the lower cord. Its level and side vary; the model draws it at one typical position.

SchematicShow in the 3D spine

At a glance

In this model
Drawn entering with the left T10 rootOne typical position; see the variation chart

How much it varies between people

0%15%30%0.5T30.7T40.8T50.8T62.2T77.3T822.2T921.7T1018.7T1112.2T126.9L13.8L21.1L30.5L40.5L5

Pooled percent by vertebral level of origin. Taterra et al. 2019, Table 4 (pooled prevalence by vertebral level of origin).

More on variation

What the sources say

“The artery of Adamkiewicz (AKA) provides the major blood supply to the anterior thoracolumbar spinal cord and iatrogenic injury or inadequate reconstruction of this vessel during vascular and endovascular surgery can result in postoperative neurological deficit due to spinal cord ischemia.” Taterra et al. 2019
“Our main findings revealed that the AKA was present in 84.6% of the population, and patients most frequently had a single AKA (87.4%) on the left side (76.6%) originating between T8 and L1 (89%).” Taterra et al. 2019

Connections to the rest of the body

  • Arterial supply

    Anterior spinal artery: down the front of the cord

    Branches of the two vertebral arteries join into the anterior spinal artery, which runs down the front of the cord in its midline groove.

    Betts et al. 2022, §13.3 · Show on the body

Read more

  • Blood supply of the spinal cord

    How blood reaches the cord: one anterior and two posterior spinal arteries running its length, topped up along the way by radiculomedullary arteries from the aorta, the largest being the artery of Adamkiewicz.

For learning only. Levels and sizes vary between people; nothing here describes a particular person or gives medical advice. Sources: Taterra et al. 2019; Betts et al. 2022, §13.3.