Artery of Adamkiewicz

In human anatomy, the artery of Adamkiewicz (also arteria radicularis magna) is the largest anterior segmental medullary artery and the dominant segmental feeding vessel to the thoracic cord, supplying the anterior aspect of the cord (from T8 to the conus medullaris) via the anterior spinal artery. It is a radiculomedullary artery arising from the spinal dorsal branch of the segmental artery (posterior intercostal, subcostal, or lumbar artery), which in turn arises from the descending aorta. It typically arises from a 9th to 11th left posterior intercostal artery, enters through the L2-L3 intervertebral foramen to join the anterior spinal artery and supply much of the inferior half of the spinal cord. The artery is named after pathologist Albert Wojciech Adamkiewicz.