Lumbar artery: anatomy, location and function

What it is

One of usually four pairs of segmental arteries arising from the back of the abdominal aorta.

Location

They arise from the posterior abdominal aorta at the levels of L1 to L4, pass behind the psoas major and give dorsal and spinal branches.

Function

They supply the posterior abdominal wall, lumbar vertebrae, spinal cord coverings and back muscles.

Body system

Cardiovascular · single, midline structure

FMA ID

FMA14735 (Foundational Model of Anatomy)

Key facts

• They are the abdominal equivalents of the posterior intercostal arteries.
• They anastomose with the inferior epigastric and iliolumbar arteries.
• Their spinal branches enter the intervertebral foramina; one of the lower thoracic or upper lumbar segmental arteries usually gives the great anterior segmental medullary artery (of Adamkiewicz) to the spinal cord.

Clinical relevance

Lumbar arteries can bleed during retroperitoneal surgery or spinal procedures.

The nearest named structures in the 3D model, measured from the centre of each part:

• Lumbar vein · cardiovascular
• Intervertebral disk of second lumbar vertebra · skeletal
• Third lumbar vertebra · skeletal
• Second lumbar vertebra · skeletal
• Ascending lumbar vein · cardiovascular
• Intervertebral disk of third lumbar vertebra · skeletal
• Fourth lumbar vertebra · skeletal
• Inferior mesenteric vein · cardiovascular
• Lumbar rotator · muscular
• Intervertebral disk of first lumbar vertebra · skeletal