The posterior and anterior radicular arteries run along the posterior and anterior roots of the spinal nerves and supply them with blood.

Relationship to Segmental Medullary Arteries

Radicular arteries can sometimes be replaced functionally by segmental medullary arteries

Segmental medullary artery

Each segmental medullary artery is a branch of the cervical part of the vertebral artery. These small branches penetrate into the vertebral bone through small openings such as the intervertebral foramina...

. However, unlike those arteries, radicular arteries do not form anastamoses with the anterior

Anterior spinal artery

In human anatomy, the anterior spinal artery is the blood vessel that supplies the anterior portion of the spinal cord. It arises from branches of the vertebral arteries and is supplied by the anterior segmental medullary arteries, including the artery of Adamkiewicz, and courses along the anterior...

 or posterior spinal arteries

Posterior spinal artery

The posterior spinal artery arises from the vertebral artery, adjacent to the medulla oblongata.-Path:It passes posteriorly to descend the medulla passing in front of the posterior roots of the spinal nerves...

. Radicular arteries are also generally smaller.

The Artery of Adamkiewicz

Artery of Adamkiewicz

In human anatomy, the Artery of Adamkiewicz is the largest anterior segmental medullary artery.It has several other names, including:* Adamkiewicz artery* great radicular artery of Adamkiewicz* major anterior segmental medullary artery...

is sometimes called "great radicular artery of Adamkiewicz", however it is in fact a segmental medullary artery.