Microsurgical anatomy of the internal vertebral venous plexuses

Abstract

Few studies have been done about the venous vascularization of the spine since neuroradiologic studies in the 1960s and 70s. The aim of this study was to clarify the topography of the internal vertebral venous plexuses in relation to the posterior longitudinal ligament and the dura. The relationships of the vv. were studied at different levels of the spine. The internal vertebral venous system of seven cadavers was injected with a blue bicomponent silicon rubber. It consisted with an anterior and a posterior venous plexus. At the cervical level, the anterior longitudinal vv. are located in a dehiscence of the periosteal layer, in the lateral part of the spinal canal. At each level, they joined the contralateral one at the midline by a retrocorporeal v. located behind the posterior longitudinal ligament. No vv. were found in the epidural space. There was a major development of the retrocorporeal v. of the axis, but it did not receive any venous drainage from the vertebral body. At the thoracic and lumbar levels, the anterior venous plexuses remain within a dehiscence of the periosteal layer, which is thinner. The retrocorporeal vv. become pre-ligamentous. We did not find any posterior venous plexuses at the cervical level, but they were evident at the thoracic level and became more voluminous and sinusoidal in the lumbar region.

Diagnostic Value of Spinal MR Imaging in Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension Syndrome

“…14 The anterior and posterior internal vertebral venous plexuses are located in the spinal epidural space. [23][24][25] The anterior internal vertebral venous plexus is located in the anterior spinal epidural space, and epidural fat is usually absent in this area. The size of this venous plexus gradually increases to a maximum at L4 and L5 and rapidly decreases in the sacral canal.…”

“…25 The posterior venous plexus is absent at the cervical level but is evident at the thoracic level and more voluminous and sinusoidal in the lumbar region. 24 On the basis of these anatomic characteristics, distended anterior venous plexus at the high cervical region should be considered as an abnormal finding suggesting SIH.…”

Clinical anatomy and clinical significance of the cervical intervertebral foramen: a review

“…The posterior longitudinal ligament lies posteriorly of the vertebral bodies and has two loosely connected layers named the anterior layer and the posterior layer [6,20] …”

“…There are two pathways at these veins [38]. The epidural venous plexuses are in communication with the extravertebral system through the intervertebral foraminal veins, by two veins [6,10,12]. The spinal roots are covered by veins, which have a horizontal course to the vertebral vein.…”

“…The spinal roots are covered by veins, which have a horizontal course to the vertebral vein. The anterior spinal vein is located at the median fissure along the spinal artery and is large at the cervical level [6].…”