Arterial Changes in the Human Vertebral Body Associated with Aging: The Ratios of Peripheral to Central Arteries and Arterial Coiling

Abstract

Microarteriography with barium has shown the topgraphic distribution of intraosseous arteries in the cadaveric human vertebral body. Two types of intraosseous artery are found in the adult vertebral body, peripheral and central, whereas in children only central arteries are found. There is a close correlation ( r=0.79) between the ratios of peripheral:central arteries against age. The central arteries develop coils, which increase proportionately in number as age advances. The possible clinical significance of these observations is discussed. The increase in peripheral arteries alters the direction of flow from centrifugal to centripetal in the aged vertebral body; this has implications for the distribution of infected material, causing vertebral osteomyelitis, and for the distribution of electric surface charges, which will alter the mineralization of the vertebral body. The increase in coiling will alter intraosseous haemodynamics, potentially increasing resistance to flow resulting in ischaemia. The coils and their sheaths will modify the height of the pulse wave within the artery, increasing agitation of extracellular fluid, thus assisting the transport of metabolites.