The anterior spinal artery (arteria spinalis anterior) is a long blood vessel which supplies the anterior aspect of spinal cord. It arises from the vertebral artery slightly above the border of the foramen magnum. From its point of origin, it descends obliquely and medially to join its fellow artery of the contralateral side to form a single and thicker blood vessel at the level of the decussation of the pyramids of medulla oblongata.
The anterior spinal artery stretches downwards in the anterior median fissure and pia mater of the spinal cord. It runs all the way downwards to end up, as a slender terminal branch, in the region of the filum terminale, beyond the spinal cord. This artery supplies the spinal cord and the meninges with oxygenated blood, anastomosing with the lateral branches of the posterior spinal artery and intercostal and lumbar arteries.
Rupture or partial occlusion of the anterior spinal artery usually leads to bilateral disruption of the corticospinal tract. This provokes motor deficits, and bilateral disruption of the spinothalamic tract. When this happens, there is sensory deficits in the form of pain and temperature sense loss. This medical condition is known as anterior spinal artery syndrome. This happens when the disruption of the anterior spinal artery is at the level of the spinal cord. However, if the anterior spinal artery is occluded in its first section, at the level of the medulla oblongata, it causes medial medullary syndrome, which has more severe consequences.
