Lateral Perspective of the Posterior Spinal Arteries of a Transparent Male

Description

Seen through a transparent lateral rendering of the male cervical region, the posterior spinal arteries course longitudinally along the dorsolateral surface of the spinal cord, just posterior to the dorsal root entry zones. Segmental radicular contributions approach the cord through the intervertebral foramina alongside cervical spinal nerves, then turn medially to join the posterior spinal arterial channels, forming recurrent anastomoses that read as arterial arcades. Posterior elements of the cervical vertebrae, including spinous processes and laminae, sit posterior to the vertebral canal, while intervertebral discs separate adjacent vertebral bodies anterior to the cord. Small arteriolar branches track along the pial surface. Tight spacing, clear relationships. This lateral perspective matters because posterior cord perfusion is often discussed abstractly, yet surgical and endovascular decision-making depends on where those segmental feeders join the longitudinal system. Compromise of radicular arteries during posterior cervical decompression, instrumentation, or foraminal work can contribute to dorsal column ischemia, with postoperative loss of vibration and proprioception out of proportion to motor findings. The recurrent anastomotic pattern also helps explain why infarcts in the posterior spinal artery territory can be patchy and level-dependent rather than neatly segmental. Use this artwork to teach spinal cord vascular territories in neuroanatomy and neurosurgery modules, to illustrate posterior circulation contributors in a spine surgery atlas, or to support manuscript figures on cervical myelopathy, laminectomy approaches, and spinal cord infarction patterns. It also reads well in patient-facing materials when you need a clean, non-gory depiction of the cervical spine and its vasculature. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.