open access

Vol 78, No 4 (2019)
Original article
Submitted: 2018-12-04
Accepted: 2019-02-18
Published online: 2019-03-04
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Changes in topographical relation between the ductus arteriosus and left subclavian artery in human embryos: a study using serial sagittal sections

Z.W. Jin1, M. Yamamoto2, J.H. Kim3, G. Murakami4, J. Wilting5, J. F. Rodríguez-Vázquez6
·
Pubmed: 30835337
·
Folia Morphol 2019;78(4):720-728.
Affiliations
  1. Department of Anatomy, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
  2. Department of Anatomy, Tokyo Dental College, Tokyo, Japan
  3. Department of Anatomy, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Republic of Korea
  4. Division of Internal Medicine, Sapporo Asuka Hospital, Sapporo, Japan
  5. Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Georg-August-Universität Gőttingen, Gőttingen, Germany
  6. Department of Anatomy and Human Embryology, Institute of Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain

open access

Vol 78, No 4 (2019)
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Submitted: 2018-12-04
Accepted: 2019-02-18
Published online: 2019-03-04

Abstract

Background: At birth, the ductus arteriosus (DA) merges with the aortic arch in the slightly caudal side of the origin of the left subclavian artery (SCA). Since the SCAs (7th segmental arteries) were fixed on the level of the 7th cervical-first thoracic vertebral bodies, the confluence of DA should migrate caudally. We aimed to describe timing and sequence of the topographical change using serial sagittal sections of 36 human embryos and foetuses (CRL 8–64 mm; 5–10 weeks), Those made easy evaluation of the vertebral levels possible in a few section. Materials and methods: The DA or 6th pharyngeal arch artery seemed to slide down in front of the sympathetic nerve trunk along 1.0–1.2 mm from the second cervical vertebral level at 5–6 weeks and, at 6 weeks (CRL 14–17 mm), the DA confluence with aorta reached the 7th cervical level. Because of the highly elongated common carotid artery, the sliding of DA confluence seemed to be much shorter than the cervical vertebrae growing from 1 mm to 2.4 mm. Results: At the final topographical change at 6–7 weeks, the DA confluence further descended to a site 1-vertebral length below the left SCA origin. From 6 to 9 weeks, a distance from the top of the aortic arch to the left SCA origin was almost stable: 0.3–0.5 mm at 6 weeks and 0.4–0.6 mm at 9 weeks. Conclusions: The heart descent and the caudal extension of the trachea and bronchi, those occurred before the DA sliding, were likely to be a major driving force for the sliding.

Abstract

Background: At birth, the ductus arteriosus (DA) merges with the aortic arch in the slightly caudal side of the origin of the left subclavian artery (SCA). Since the SCAs (7th segmental arteries) were fixed on the level of the 7th cervical-first thoracic vertebral bodies, the confluence of DA should migrate caudally. We aimed to describe timing and sequence of the topographical change using serial sagittal sections of 36 human embryos and foetuses (CRL 8–64 mm; 5–10 weeks), Those made easy evaluation of the vertebral levels possible in a few section. Materials and methods: The DA or 6th pharyngeal arch artery seemed to slide down in front of the sympathetic nerve trunk along 1.0–1.2 mm from the second cervical vertebral level at 5–6 weeks and, at 6 weeks (CRL 14–17 mm), the DA confluence with aorta reached the 7th cervical level. Because of the highly elongated common carotid artery, the sliding of DA confluence seemed to be much shorter than the cervical vertebrae growing from 1 mm to 2.4 mm. Results: At the final topographical change at 6–7 weeks, the DA confluence further descended to a site 1-vertebral length below the left SCA origin. From 6 to 9 weeks, a distance from the top of the aortic arch to the left SCA origin was almost stable: 0.3–0.5 mm at 6 weeks and 0.4–0.6 mm at 9 weeks. Conclusions: The heart descent and the caudal extension of the trachea and bronchi, those occurred before the DA sliding, were likely to be a major driving force for the sliding.

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Keywords

heart descent, ductus arteriosus, subclavian artery, topographical anatomy, pharyngeal arch, human embryo

About this article
Title

Changes in topographical relation between the ductus arteriosus and left subclavian artery in human embryos: a study using serial sagittal sections

Journal

Folia Morphologica

Issue

Vol 78, No 4 (2019)

Article type

Original article

Pages

720-728

Published online

2019-03-04

Page views

1512

Article views/downloads

718

DOI

10.5603/FM.a2019.0028

Pubmed

30835337

Bibliographic record

Folia Morphol 2019;78(4):720-728.

Keywords

heart descent
ductus arteriosus
subclavian artery
topographical anatomy
pharyngeal arch
human embryo

Authors

Z.W. Jin
M. Yamamoto
J.H. Kim
G. Murakami
J. Wilting
J. F. Rodríguez-Vázquez

References (15)
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