Spinal arteries. Historical illustration of the arteries of the spinal cord. The arteries are coloured red to show that they supply oxygenated blood. At right is the rear view and at left is the front view. At top left, the basilar artery of the brain is seen branching into the two vertebral arteries of the spine. The base of the brain is seen at top in both diagrams. The spinal cord is protected by the backbone (not seen), and connects the brain to the rest of the body. Nerve bundles are seen branching off to supply nerve impulses to different regions of the body. Colour lithograph by Fairland from The Vessels of the Human Body, 1837. Based on drawings by J. Swandale.