Abdominal aorta and its branches: Morphometry - Variations in autopsy cases

Abstract

Aim: Knowing the morphology of abdominal aorta (AA) and its branches are important as regards to diagnosis and surgical treatment. The aims of this study were to a) make morphometric measurements of AA and its branches, b) to investigate sites of the origins of the branches and their relationships and variations, and c) to compare the results with literature.Method: Ninety-five AA which had been removed in autopsies were measured with caliper morphometrically to determine diameters of branches and distances between branches. Possible variation of the vessels were investigated and photographed.Result: It was found that diameters of celiac trunk (CT), superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) were 6.43±1.59 mm, 7.38±1.67 mm and 3.61±0.72 mm respectively. The distances between CT and aortic bifurcation (AB), CT and SMA, SMA and IMA, IMA and AB were 107.21±11.46 mm, 14.34±2.67 mm, 57.76±8.04 mm, 35.20±7.41 mm respectively. Numerous variations were observed during the study. These variations involved inferior phrenic artery (single trunk arising from CT, 4.2%), renal artery-RA (duplicated right RA 9.5%, duplicated left RA 4.2%, bilaterally duplicated 3.1%, %16.8 total multiple RA), gonadal arteries-GA (single GA, 1%), lumbar arteries-LA (3 pairs of LA 11.5%, 3rd or 4th LA arising as single trunk 3.1%) and median sacral artery (agenesis 2.1%). Conclusion: Knowledge of morphology of AA and its branches is important in regards to the diagnosis, surgical treatment and endovascular interventions of these vessels. We think our study will contribute to the medical education and clinical medicine in our country.