Medicine & USMLE

Anterior Spinal Artery (ASA)

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Strokes
  1. Anterior Cerebral Artery (ACA)
  2. Middle Cerebral Artery (MCA)
  3. Posterior Cerebral Artery (PCA)
  4. Lenticulostriate Artery
  5. Anterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery (AICA)
  6. Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery (PICA)
  7. Anterior Spinal Artery (ASA)
  8. Basilar Artery

Summary

Stroke of the anterior spinal artery causes medial medullary syndrome, named for the resulting loss of blood supply to the medulla. This condition affects the corticospinal tract and medial lemniscus. It also involves damage to the hypoglossal nerve, which causes ipsilateral tongue movement dysfunction.

Key Points

  • Anterior Spinal Artery (ASA)
    • Also known as Medial Medullary Syndrome
      • Typically affects paramedian branches of the ASA
      • Loss of blood supply to medial medulla
    • Area of lesion
      • Corticospinal tract
        • Contralateral paralysis of upper and lower extremity
      • Medial lemniscus
        • Decreased contralateral proprioception and vibration sense
      • Caudal medulla - Hypoglossal nerve
        • Ipsilateral tongue movement dysfunction (tongue deviates towards side of lesion)