Reinforcing vascular supply to these longitudinally running vessels is provided by eight to ten segmental medullary arteries. The largest segmental medullary artery is the artery of Adamkiewicz in the lower thoracic or upper lumbar region. This vessel is typically on the left side and contributes significantly to perfusion of the lower portion of the spinal cord.
Venous drainage of the spinal cord occurs through a series of longitudinally running channels that connect with the anterior and posterior spinal veins on the surface of the cord.