[Arterial vascularization of the lumbar vertebrae]

The authors have studied the vascularization in the lumbar verebrae. All arteries originate in the arteriae lumbales. They form an internal supply plexus and a peripheral periosteal plexus. The internal supply plexus is formed by radicular arteries divided into an anterior branch (the abdominal artery), with its corporeal branches, and a posterior branch (the dorsal artery) forming the arcus posterior. The periosteal plexus is formed by an anterior plexus for the corpus vertebrae and a posterior plexus for the arcus posterior. Intra-osseous vascularization at the level of the corpus vertebrae has been described; showing a difference between foetuses and adults. In the foetus, the posterior supply vessels predominate, whereas in the adult, the anterior periosteal vessels predominate. At the arcus posterior there is no difference between foetuses and adults.