Posterior Spinal Arteries in a Transparent Male Body, Posterior View

Description

Running longitudinally along the posterolateral surface of the cervical spinal cord, the paired posterior spinal arteries descend on either side of the posterior median sulcus, closely paralleling the dorsal rootlets as they approach the intervertebral foramina. Segmental radicular contributors enter with the cervical spinal nerves and reinforce the arterial channels near the dorsolateral sulcus, while smaller arterioles arborize across the dorsal cord surface. Semi-transparent cervical vertebrae frame the course of these vessels posteriorly, with the laminae and spinous processes forming the bony backdrop. Orientation is clear. Medial-to-lateral relationships between posterior midline, dorsal root entry zone, and foraminal level are easy to read. This posterior perspective matters because it isolates the arterial supply to the dorsal columns and dorsal horns, territories implicated in posterior spinal artery ischemia and in watershed compromise when radicular inflow is reduced. For neurosurgical teaching, the view mirrors the corridor encountered after posterior cervical exposure, when laminectomy or laminoplasty places dorsal cord vasculature and rootlets at risk from traction, coagulation, or epidural instrumentation. It also supports explanation of why dorsal cord infarcts can spare anterior horn function, in contrast to anterior spinal artery syndromes. Use this illustration in gross anatomy and neuroanatomy curricula when mapping spinal cord vascular territories, in spine surgery atlases discussing posterior cervical approaches, or in neurology and radiology content differentiating dorsal column deficits from anterior cord presentations on clinical exam and MRI. It also fits patient-facing education on cervical myelopathy when you need a clean, posteriorly oriented vascular reference without distracting anterior neck structures. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.