What is the consequence of occlusion of a dominant anterior spinal artery?
The central medullary area may be supplied by a single dominant anterior spinal artery.
Occlusion of this vessel then leads to bilateral infarction of the medial medulla, resulting in quadriplegia (with face sparing), complete paralysis of the tongue, and complete loss of position and vibratory sensation.
The patient will be mute although fully conscious.