Structures · Blood vessels
Segmental medullary (radiculomedullary) arteries
Branches of segmental arteries from the aorta that reach the cord along nerve roots and feed the anterior and posterior spinal arteries. The largest is the artery of Adamkiewicz.
SchematicShow in the 3D spine
What the sources say
“Segmental arteries branching from the aorta give rise to the anterior and posterior radiculomedullary arteries, which supply the ASA and PSA, respectively.” Iwamoto et al. 2026
“The AKA is the most dominant anterior radiculomedullary artery and is responsible for the arterial blood supply to the spinal cord from T8 to the conus medullaris [ 3 ].” Taterra et al. 2019
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: Iwamoto et al. 2026; Taterra et al. 2019.