Posterior Myelopathy (Posterior Spinal Artery Syndrome)

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Posterior Myelopathy

Posterior myelopathy refers to premature death of

tissue in the posterior (back) spinal arteries and/or its

branches due to a decrease or loss of oxygen to this

region. An artery is a blood vessel that carries blood

away from the heart. The posterior spinal artery

supplies supply the back third of the spinal cord. The

nerve fibers travelling through this area become

damaged by the decrease of oxygen.

The damage from the oxygen loss can also spread to

the posterior horns of the spinal cord, which is also

supplied by the posterior spinal artery.

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In the spinal cord, the posterior horn is a horn-shaped area of gray matter (tissue), which

receives different types of sensory information such as vibration sense, light touch, and

proprioception. Proprioception is the ability to sense or perceive the spatial position and

movements of the body and the strength of effort that is needed in movement.

These functions are often affected to varying degrees in posterior myelopathy. Joint

position sense can be affected, which is a form of proprioception. Tendon reflexes are

also lost in posterior myelopathy. Tendons are groups of fibers that attach muscles to a

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Posterior myelopathy is considered a type of vascular myelopathy

or vascular disease of the spinal cord. Vascular refers to the blood

supply system. There is also anterior myelopathy, which affects the

anterior spinal artery. This is much more common than posterior

myelopathy because the regions supplied by the anterior spinal

artery are much more susceptible to oxygen loss than the white

matter regions supplied by the posterior spinal artery. White matter

is a group of white nerve fibers that conduct nerve impulses quickly.

Posterior myelopathy is also known as posterior spinal artery

syndrome. Posterior myelopathy comes from the Latin word

"posterior" meaning "behind," the Greek word "myelos" meaning

"marrow," and the Greek word "pathos" meaning "suffering."

Put the words together and you get "suffering behind (the) marrow," where marrow refers to the spine.