Vol 64, No 4 (2005)
Original article
Submitted: 2012-02-06
Published online: 2005-09-20
The variability and morphometry of the brachiocephalic trunk in human foetuses
Szpinda M, Flisiński P, Elminowska-Wenda G, Flisiński M, Krakowiak-Sarnowska E
Folia Morphol 2005;64(4):309-314.
Vol 64, No 4 (2005)
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Submitted: 2012-02-06
Published online: 2005-09-20
Abstract
In prenatal and pediatric cardiovascular surgery knowledge of the various arrangements
of the aortic arch and its branches as well as the normative data are
essential. The variability and morphometric features of the brachiocephalic trunk in
131 human foetuses (65 male, 66 female) ranging from 15 to 34 weeks of gestation
were studied by means of anatomical, digital and statistical methods. In all
the foetuses examined the left aortic arches were found to have three different
arrangements. In 74.05% of cases the usual pattern of the aortic arch with its
three main branches were observed. A common origin of the brachiocephalic
trunk and left common carotid artery occurred in 20.61% of individuals. In 5.34%
of cases the left vertebral artery was an additional vessel and arose from the aortic
arch between the left common carotid and subclavian arteries. No significant gender
differences were found with respect to the brachiocephalic trunk (p ≥ 0.05).
The developmental increase in length (r1 = 0.78) and diameter (r2 = 0.83) correlated
with a linear function but the increase in volume in relation to age corresponded
to a quadratic function (r3 = 0.73). Our results show the largest increases
in the brachiocephalic trunk according to the following parameters: the length
- between the 4th and 5th, and 7th and 8th months, diameter - between the 8th
and 9th months and volume - between the 4th and 5th, and 7th and 9th months of
gestation (p ≤ 0.01). The present study constructs a normal range for the morphometric
features of the foetal brachiocephalic trunk.
Abstract
In prenatal and pediatric cardiovascular surgery knowledge of the various arrangements
of the aortic arch and its branches as well as the normative data are
essential. The variability and morphometric features of the brachiocephalic trunk in
131 human foetuses (65 male, 66 female) ranging from 15 to 34 weeks of gestation
were studied by means of anatomical, digital and statistical methods. In all
the foetuses examined the left aortic arches were found to have three different
arrangements. In 74.05% of cases the usual pattern of the aortic arch with its
three main branches were observed. A common origin of the brachiocephalic
trunk and left common carotid artery occurred in 20.61% of individuals. In 5.34%
of cases the left vertebral artery was an additional vessel and arose from the aortic
arch between the left common carotid and subclavian arteries. No significant gender
differences were found with respect to the brachiocephalic trunk (p ≥ 0.05).
The developmental increase in length (r1 = 0.78) and diameter (r2 = 0.83) correlated
with a linear function but the increase in volume in relation to age corresponded
to a quadratic function (r3 = 0.73). Our results show the largest increases
in the brachiocephalic trunk according to the following parameters: the length
- between the 4th and 5th, and 7th and 8th months, diameter - between the 8th
and 9th months and volume - between the 4th and 5th, and 7th and 9th months of
gestation (p ≤ 0.01). The present study constructs a normal range for the morphometric
features of the foetal brachiocephalic trunk.
Keywords
innominate artery; variability; length; diameter; volume; regression analysis; human foetuses
Title
The variability and morphometry of the brachiocephalic trunk in human foetuses
Journal
Folia Morphologica
Issue
Vol 64, No 4 (2005)
Article type
Original article
Pages
309-314
Published online
2005-09-20
Page views
1495
Article views/downloads
1493
Bibliographic record
Folia Morphol 2005;64(4):309-314.
Keywords
innominate artery
variability
length
diameter
volume
regression analysis
human foetuses
Authors
Szpinda M
Flisiński P
Elminowska-Wenda G
Flisiński M
Krakowiak-Sarnowska E