Does the Adamkiewicz artery originate from the larger segmental arteries?
OBJECTIVE: The Adamkiewicz artery supplies most of the blood to the anterior spinal artery, which perfuses the anterior two thirds of the spinal cord. During operations for thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm, detailed anatomic knowledge of the Adamkiewicz artery and its correlation with the intercostal and/or lumbar arteries is important to prevent postoperative paraplegia. METHODS: Minute dissection was performed on 102 formol-fixed adult cadavers without any history of circulatory disorders. The Adamkiewicz artery was found in the epidural space after laminectomy of the vertebrae. The entire course between the Adamkiewicz artery and the intercostal and/or lumbar artery was dissected carefully. The vertebral level, laterality, and mean diameter of all Adamkiewicz arteries were investigated. The correlation between the diameter of the Adamkiewicz artery and that of the intercostal and/or lumbar arteries was also determined. RESULTS: The mean number of Adamkiewicz arteries per cadaver was
