The authors studied the development of transient disorders of blood supply in the spinal cord and radicles. Besides the well known clinical forms which are described as syndromes of intermittent claudication of the spinal cord and cauda equina, there are some other variants of this disorder. Transient ischemia of this localization as a rule is either connected with atherosclerosis of the abdominal aorta, either with degenerative-dystrophic or congenital changes in the sacral part of the spine. The authors underline the role of individual differences in the vascularization of the spinal cord in the development of disorders in spinal circulation. The prognosis of transient ischemia, its correlation with stable disturbances is assessed. A differential diagnosis is also made between different transient vascular spinal disorders and radicle disturbances.