These segmental arteries provide blood flow to the surface and inside the spinal canal at each segmental level.

The posterior branch continues as the posterior segmental artery.

The segmental arteries are branches of the renal arteries.

There are five named segmental arteries:

The anterior branch further divides into the superior (apical), anterosuperior, anteroinferior and inferior segmental arteries.

Each renal artery branches into segmental arteries, dividing further into interlobar arteries which penetrate the renal capsule and extend through the renal columns between the renal pyramids.

The foramen allows for the passage of the spinal nerve root, dorsal root ganglion, the spinal artery of the segmental artery, communicating veins between the internal and external plexuses, recurrent meningeal (sinu-vertebral) nerves, and transforaminal ligaments.