Artery of Adamkiewicz - Anatomical Variation

Anatomical Variation

The spinal cord vasculature has a complex and highly variable anatomy. In a study of approximately 70 people that examined the spinal cord's blood supply it was found that:

1. The Adamkiewicz artery sometimes arises from a lumbar vessel.
2. In approximately 30% of people it arises from the right side.
3. One quarter of people have two large anterior segmental medullary arteries.

In 75% of people, the artery of Adamkiewicz originates on the left side of the aorta between the T8 and L1 vertebral segments.

In an extensive literature review, recognition of the AKA using CT and/or MR was achieved in 466 of 555 cases (83.96%)and in 384 (83.3%) cases the AKA originated from a left intercostal artery.