Abstract
The vertebral artery (VA) is classically divided into four segments (1): the first (V1) runs from its origin on the subclavian artery to its first entry into the transverse process of the cervical vertebrae; this point is located at C6 in more than 90% of the population (2–4); the second segment (V2) runs upward through the transverse processes up to C1. The third segment (V3) begins as the artery exits the C1 foramen and ends up at the site of penetration through the atlooccipital membrane; the fourth segment (V4) is the intracranial portion of the VA.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
George B, Laurian C (1987) The vertebral artery: pathology and surgery. Springer-Verlag, New York.
Bruneau M, Cornelius JF, Marneffe V, et al. (2006) Anatomical variations of the V2 segment of the vertebral artery. Neurosurgery 59:20–4.
Hong JT, Park DK, Lee MJ, et al. (2008) Anatomical variations of the vertebral artery segment in the lower cervical spine. Spine 33(22):2422–6.
Matula C, Trattnig S, Tschabitscher M, et al. (1997) The course of the prevertebral segment of the vertebral artery: anatomy and clinical significance. Surg Neurol 48:125–31.
Detwiler PW, Porter RW, Harrington TR, et al. (1998) Vascular decompression of a vertebral artery loop producing cervical radiculopathy. Case report. J Neurosurg 89(3):485–8.
Korinth MC, Mull M (2007) Vertebral artery loop causing cervical radiculopathy. Surg Neurol 67(2): 172–3.
Sakaida H, Okada M, Yamamoto A (2001) Vascular reconstruction of a vertebral artery loop causing cervical radiculopathy and vertebrobasilar insufficiency. Case report. J Neurosurg 94(1 Suppl.):45–9.
Paolini S, Lanzino G (2006) Anatomical relationships between the V2 segment of the vertebral artery and the cervical nerve roots. J Neurosurg (Spine) 5(5):440–2.
Cluzel P, Pierot L, Leung A, et al. (1994) Vertebral arteriovenous fistulae in neurofibromatosis: report of two cases and review of the literature. Neuroradiology 36:321–5.
Kohno M, Takahashi H, Ide K, et al. (1996) A cervical dural arteriovenous fistula in a patient presenting with radiculopathy. Case report. J Neurosurg 84:119–23.
Paolini S, Colonnese C, Galasso V, et al. (2008) Extradural arteriovenous fistulas involving the vertebral artery in neurofibromatosis type 1. J Neurosurg (Spine) 8(2):181–5.
Ebraheim NA, Lu J, Haman SP, Yeasting RA (1998) Anatomic basis of the anterior surgery on the cervical spine: relationships between uncus-artery-root complex and vertebral artery injury. Surg Radiol Anat 20:389–92.
Golfinos JG, Dickman CA, Zabramski JM, et al. (1994) Repair of vertebral artery injury during anterior cervical decompression. Spine 19:2552–6.
Inamasu J, Guiot BH (2005) Iatrogenic vertebral artery injury. Acta Neurol Scand 112:349–57.
Peng CW, Chou BT, Bendo JA, Spivak JM (2008) Vertebral artery injury in cervical spine surgery: anatomical considerations, management, and preventive measures. Spine J 9:70–6.
Smith MD, Emery SE, Dudley A, et al. (1993) Vertebral artery injury during anterior decompression of the cervical spine. A retrospective review of ten patients. J Bone Joint Surg Br 75:410–5.
Kawashima M, Tanriover N, Rhoton Jr AL, Matsushima T (2003) The transverse process, intertransverse space, and vertebral artery in anterior approaches to the lower cervical spine. J Neurosurg 98:188–94.
Pait TG, Killefer JA, Arnautovic KI (1996) Surgical anatomy of anterior cervical spine: the disc space, vertebral artery, and associated bony structures. Neurosurgery 39:769–76.
Lu J, Ebraheim NA, Georgiadis GM, et al. (1998): Anatomic considerations of the vertebral artery: implications for anterior decompression of the cervical spine. J Spinal Disord 11:233–6.
Lot G, George B (1997) Cervical neuromas with extradural components: surgical management in a series of 57 patients. Neurosurgery 41:813–20.
Bruneau M, Cornelius JF, George B (2007) Multilevel oblique corpectomies: surgical indications and technique. Neurosurgery 61(3 Suppl.):106–12.
George B, Lot G (1994) Oblique transcorporeal drilling to treat anterior compression of the spinal cord at the cervical level. Minim Invasive Neurosurg 37:48–52.
George B, Gauthier N, Lot G (1999) Multisegmental cervical spondylotic myelopathy and radiculopathy treated by multilevel oblique corpectomies without fusion. Neurosurgery 44:81–9.
Jho HD (1996) Microsurgical anterior foraminotomy for radiculopathy: a new approach to cervical disc herniation. J Neurosurg 84(2):155–60.
Saringer W, Nöbauer I, Reddy M, et al. (2002) Microsurgical anterior cervical foraminotomy (uncoforaminotomy) for unilateral radiculopathy: clinical results of a new technique. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 144(7):685–94.
Ture U, Ozek M, Pamir MN (2003) Lateral approach for resection of the C3 corpus: technical case report. Neurosurgery 52:977–80.
Chakravorty BG (1971) Arterial supply of the cervical spinal cord (with special reference to the radicular arteries. Anat Rec 170:311–290.
Lasjaunias P, Berenstein A, Ter Brugge KG (2001) Spinal cord arteries and vein. In: Surgical neuro-angiography. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg/New York, p. 85–104.
Turnbull IM, Brieg A, Hassler O (1966) Blood supply of cervical spinal cord in man. A microangiographic cadaver study. J Neurosurg 24:951–65.
Özgen S, Pait TG, Çağlar YS (2004) The V2 segment of the vertebral artery and its branches. J Neurosurg 3:299–305.
Paolini S, Alvernia J, Lanzino G (2006) The V2 segment of the vertebral artery. J Neurosurg Spine 5:477–8.
Tubbs RS, Shah NA, Sullivan BP, et al. (2009) Surgical anatomy and quantitation of the branches of the V2 and V3 segments of the vertebral artery. J Neurosurg Spine 11:84–7.
Jackson RS, Wheeler AH, Darden BV (2000) Vertebral artery anomaly with atraumatic dissection causing thromboembolic ischemia: a case report. Spine 25:1989–92.
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2011 Springer-Verlag France, Paris
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Paolini, S., Lanzino, G. (2011). Relation between the cervical nerve roots and the vertebral artery. In: Pathology and surgery around the vertebral artery. Springer, Paris. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-2-287-89787-0_5
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-2-287-89787-0_5
Publisher Name: Springer, Paris
Print ISBN: 978-2-287-89786-3
Online ISBN: 978-2-287-89787-0
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)