Anterior cord syndrome is a medical condition where the blood supply to the anterior portion of the spinal cord is interrupted and "is the most common form of spinal cord infarction". The anterior portion of the spinal cord is supplied by the anterior spinal artery. It begins at the foramen magnum where branches of the two vertebral arteries exit, merge and descend along the anterior spinal cord. As the anterior spinal artery proceeds inferiorly, it receives branches originating mostly from the aorta. It is characterized by loss of motor function below the level of injury, loss of sensations carried by the anterior columns of the spinal cord (pain and temperature), and preservation of sensations carried by the posterior columns (fine touch and proprioception). A type of incomplete spinal cord injury, anterior spinal syndrome is produced by injury of the motor and sensory paths of the anterior part of the spinal cord. Patients cannot feel coarse sensations such as pain and temperature, which are carried through the anterolateral pathways. However, proprioceptive sense and sensation of fine touch are preserved.
Read more about Anterior Cord Syndrome: Clinical Presentation, Causes, Treatment and Prognosis
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