Vol 63, No 1 (2004)
Original article
Submitted: 2012-02-06
Published online: 2003-12-03
The internal thoracic artery in human foetuses
Marcin Wiśniewski, Elżbieta Krakowiak-Sarnowska, Michał Szpinda, Jan Sarnowski
Folia Morphol 2004;63(1):19-23.
Vol 63, No 1 (2004)
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Submitted: 2012-02-06
Published online: 2003-12-03
Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine the internal thoracic artery (ITA) in human
foetuses. The research material consisted of 32 human foetuses (18 female,
14 male) from the 21st to 24th week of intrauterine life. After intravascular injection
with white latex LBS 3060, the foetuses were fixed in 10% neutral formalin solution.
The whole course of the ITA was prepared. Photographic documentation was performed
with a Nikon Coolpix 4500 digital camera, and source pictures of arteries
were rendered in a Digital Computer System Analysis. The ITA was evaluated with
regard to its origin, length, distance from the edge of the sternum to two intercostal
spaces (2nd, 5th) and division into terminal branches. The right ITA (RITA) arose from
the ascending (68.7%), arcuate (21.9%) and descending (3.2%) parts of the subclavian
artery. In other cases (6.2%) it was a branch of the thyrocervical trunk. The left
ITA (LITA) was a branch of the ascending (78.1%) and arcuate (21.9%) parts of the
subclavian artery. The ITA was longer in male foetuses. Regardless of sex, the LITA
was longer than the RITA. Coefficient correlation between the RITA and LITA was
0.92 (p < 0.001). The distance of the ITA from the edge of sternum in the 2nd and
5th intercostal spaces on both sides was greater in females. It appeared most frequently
in the 6th space (43.7% right-sided and 56.3% left-sided). Typical bifurcation
of the ITA into the superior epigastric artery and the musculophrenic artery was
observed in 78.1% of cases on the right side and in 81.25% of cases on the left side.
Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine the internal thoracic artery (ITA) in human
foetuses. The research material consisted of 32 human foetuses (18 female,
14 male) from the 21st to 24th week of intrauterine life. After intravascular injection
with white latex LBS 3060, the foetuses were fixed in 10% neutral formalin solution.
The whole course of the ITA was prepared. Photographic documentation was performed
with a Nikon Coolpix 4500 digital camera, and source pictures of arteries
were rendered in a Digital Computer System Analysis. The ITA was evaluated with
regard to its origin, length, distance from the edge of the sternum to two intercostal
spaces (2nd, 5th) and division into terminal branches. The right ITA (RITA) arose from
the ascending (68.7%), arcuate (21.9%) and descending (3.2%) parts of the subclavian
artery. In other cases (6.2%) it was a branch of the thyrocervical trunk. The left
ITA (LITA) was a branch of the ascending (78.1%) and arcuate (21.9%) parts of the
subclavian artery. The ITA was longer in male foetuses. Regardless of sex, the LITA
was longer than the RITA. Coefficient correlation between the RITA and LITA was
0.92 (p < 0.001). The distance of the ITA from the edge of sternum in the 2nd and
5th intercostal spaces on both sides was greater in females. It appeared most frequently
in the 6th space (43.7% right-sided and 56.3% left-sided). Typical bifurcation
of the ITA into the superior epigastric artery and the musculophrenic artery was
observed in 78.1% of cases on the right side and in 81.25% of cases on the left side.
Keywords
internal thoracic artery; morphometry; foetuses
Title
The internal thoracic artery in human foetuses
Journal
Folia Morphologica
Issue
Vol 63, No 1 (2004)
Article type
Original article
Pages
19-23
Published online
2003-12-03
Page views
618
Article views/downloads
1299
Bibliographic record
Folia Morphol 2004;63(1):19-23.
Keywords
internal thoracic artery
morphometry
foetuses
Authors
Marcin Wiśniewski
Elżbieta Krakowiak-Sarnowska
Michał Szpinda
Jan Sarnowski
About this article